COVID-19-induced immune thrombocytopenia management approach: A case report and literature review.

Key Clinical Message: Vincristine therapy can be effective in refractory Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) following COVID-19 vaccination. Our case report highlights the need for further research to establish standard management guidelines for COVID-19-vaccine-associated ITP.

Abstract: Adult immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) can occur as a rare complication following several viral infections or a rare adverse event or complication of vaccination.

Profiling of microRNAs by next-generation sequencing: Potential biomarkers for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Background: Lymphoma ranks fifth in prevalence among common cancer types worldwide. This lymphatic system cancer arises from T or B cells. Diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) are associated with most non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Cardiovascular Consequences of Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder which can lead to severe complications, particularly in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, potentially resulting in arrhythmias, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and cardiomegaly. This study aims to investigate the risk of PH and arrhythmias in adult SCD patients.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of medical records from King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) for patients with SCD aged 15 and above between 2009 and 2021.

Antiphospholipid Antibody Testing: An Audit on Testing Practices in a Public Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are antibodies directed against cell membrane components and can be associated with clinical features or be asymptomatic. Testing and interpreting these antibodies is associated with many challenges and pitfalls in clinical practice.

Objective: To review all antiphospholipid antibody testing and describe the testing practices, indications for testing and interpretation of results to infer local challenges with aPL testing and subsequently address ways to overcome those challenges.

Predisposing Factors and Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism among Hospitalized Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Though patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), clear estimates of its incidence and predisposing factors in hospitalized SCD patients are not available. Therefore, this issue was addressed to facilitate an early diagnosis and initiate appropriate prophylactic and treatment strategies. A retrospective observational study was conducted on patients with SCD who were admitted to an academic center in Saudi Arabia over a 10-year period.

Is a Higher Body Mass Index a Risk Factor for Developing Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome?

Background:  Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are antibodies directed against components of the cell membrane and can be associated with clinical features or be asymptomatic in 1-5% of the population.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the frequency of aPL positivity based on body mass index (BMI).

Methods:  This is a retrospective analysis of all aPL testing done in a tertiary center between 2010 and 2020.

Association of Genetic Variant FVIII Gene and Factor VIII: A Pilot Study Among Hemophilia A Female Relatives in Saudi Arabia.

Unlabelled: Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked recessive disorder that results from mutations in the factor VIII gene (FVIII). Most affected patients are males due to the inheritance of mutations in the FVIII gene from their mothers. Females are mostly found to be carriers unless they inherited the mutation from both parents.

sp.-An emerging cause of diarrhea post stem cell transplantation.

Key Clinical Message: Protozoans are endemic in the Middle East and diarrhea workup post stem cell transplant should always include stool examination for ova and parasites.

Abstract: We present a case of sp. infection in a multiple myeloma patient who developed diarrhea on day five of post-autologous stem cell transplantation.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Infections Among Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma and Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patients in a Tertiary Care Center in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction:  Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) ranked fourth among all cancer types in Saudi Arabia, as reported by the Saudi Health Council in 2015. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological type of NHL. On the other hand, classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL) ranked sixth and had a modest tendency to affect young men more frequently.

Primary Central Nervous System Burkitt Lymphoma, Presenting with Long-Term Fluctuating Level of Consciousness: A Case Report and Literature Review on Challenges in Diagnosis and Management.

BACKGROUND Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) rarely affecting the central nervous system (CNS) as a primary disease. Over the past years, only a few cases of primary CNS Burkitt lymphoma were reported. There is a challenge in early recognition and diagnosis of this type of brain lymphoma.

Immunogenicity of The BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccines in Patients with Hemoglobinopathies.

Introduction: Studies assessing immune responses following Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 (Pfizer) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 AZD1222 (AstraZeneca) vaccines in patients with hemoglobinopathy are non-existent in the literature despite being thought at high risk of infection.

Methods: Prospectively, we collected serum from patients with hemoglobinopathies at least 14 days post vaccine and measured neutralizing antibodies (nAb) in addition to binding antibodies using in-house assays.

Results: All 66 participants mounted a significant binding antibody response (100%), but nAbs were detected in (56/66) post-vaccine with a rate of 84.

Low clinical utility of testing for anti-platelet factor 4 in asymptomatic individuals after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.

Introduction: The development of anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies is linked to a rare thrombotic complication described now as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). This clinical syndrome with thrombosis and thrombocytopenia was reported after exposure to the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222), and Ad26.COV2.

Mortality from Multiple Myeloma Within One Year Following Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: Defining an Ultra-high Risk Population.

Despite improvements in therapy, approximately 5% of patients who undergo autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) experience early mortality (EM), death within 1 year of transplant (EM post-ASCT). Such patients tend to have few comorbidities suggesting their EM is owing to aggressive underlying disease. We sought to characterize this ultra-high risk population through a retrospective review of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) treated with first-line ASCT.

Web-based expert system with quick response code for beta-thalassemia management.

β-thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body cannot produce hemoglobin normally. Since patients with this condition receive blood transfusions regularly, iron builds up primarily in organs such as the heart, liver and endocrine glands. Accumulation of iron in the organs necessitates chelation therapy.