Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: effect of heat inactivation of patient's serum on functional flow cytometric assay results.

Background: Heat inactivation of a patient's sample is not systematically performed in the diagnostics of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Some authors recommend that the patient's sample is heat-inactivated to avoid the effect of thrombin on platelet activation in a functional assay. Others do not find this additional step essential or even advise against it.

Severe intracranial haemorrhage in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia due to antibodies against human platelet antigen 1b: Case report and literature review.

Fetal/neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) is a rare life-threatening disorder, leading to severe thrombocytopenia and potentially bleeding, with intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) being the most serious complication. We report on a FNAIT case with fourth-degree ICH that arose due to antibodies against human platelet antigen (HPA)-1b. The male infant, born to an otherwise healthy mother, presented with severe signs of ICH soon after delivery.

K antigens on neonatal red blood cells blocked by anti-K with titer of 32.

The blocking of red blood cell (RBC) antigens occurs when potent maternal antibodies bind to antigens on fetal or neonatal RBCs, causing them to be negative when typed with human IgM antisera. This phenomenon is rare; when it does occur, the antibody is usually of a high titer. This reported finding is typically due to anti-D, with rare reports describing false-negative K phenotyping due to blocking by maternal anti-K.

Haemolysis, pure red cell aplasia and red cell antibody formation associated with major and bidirectional ABO incompatible haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Background: Acute and delayed haemolysis, alloimmunisation and pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) are potential complications after ABO incompatible haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The aims of this study were to investigate acute and delayed red blood cell (RBC) antibody-associated complications, including haemolysis, PRCA and alloimmunisation in major and bidirectional ABO incompatible HSCT.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively examined the transplant courses of 36 recipients of bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells from ABO incompatible donors and evaluated the current practice of performing plasmapheresis in patients with higher isoagglutinin titres.

[ISKRA guidelines on sore throat: diagnostic and therapeutic approach--Croatian national guidelines].

Sore throat is most commonly caused by viruses, but when caused by bacteria, the most important is group A streptococcus (GAS). The aim of these guidelines is to determine optimal treatment for streptococcal sore throat and reasonable indications for tonsillectomy, as well as recommend how to differentiate streptococcal infection for which antibiotics are justified, from numerous other sore throats where antibiotics wont have a significant effect on disease course, but might contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The development of the guidelines was initiated by the Interdisciplinary Section for Antibiotic Resistance Control (ISKRA) of the Croatian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in accordance with the principles of AGREE (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation) methodology which means that the guidelines are the result of consensus between all interested professional societies and institutions.

[ISKRA guidelines on antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis of urinary tract infections--Croatian national guidelines].

These guidelines refer to diagnosis, antimicrobial treatment and prophylaxis of urinary tract infections in adults and children older than 12 years of age and cover lower urinary tract in females, uncomplicated pyelonephritis, complicated UTI with or without pyelonephritis, asymptomatic bacteriuria and recurrent UTI. These guidelines do not cover sexually transmitted diseases. The guidelines are primarily intended for use by general practitioners and specialists working in primary health care and hospitals.