Sickle cell disease and pregnancy: analysis of 34 patients followed at the Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the evolution of pregnancies in sickle cell patients followed at one institution over a period of 12 years (January 2000 to June 2012).

Methods: The study evaluated 34 pregnant women with sickle cell disease with a mean age of 23.9±5.

Clinical and hematological effects of hydroxyurea therapy in sickle cell patients: a single-center experience in Brazil.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common genetic disorder among people of African descent, affecting approximately 3,500 newborns each year in Brazil. Hydroxyurea (HU) is the only effective drug to treating patients with SCD, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. The objective was to analyze the effects of HU on SCD patients at our institution.

Hematological differences between patients with different subtypes of sickle cell disease on hydroxyurea treatment.

Objective: Sickle cell anemia and the interaction S/Beta thalassemia differ in hematological values due to microcytosis and hypochromia caused by the thalassemic mutation. The clinical benefit of long-term hydroxyurea treatment is undeniable in sickle cell disease with monitoring of the biological action of the drug being by the complete blood count. The objective of this work is to compare changes in some of the erythrocytic indexes between S/Beta thalassemia and sickle cell anemia patients on long-term hydroxyurea treatment.

Intrahepatic cholestasis in sickle cell disease: a case report.

Intrahepatic cholestasis (SCIC) is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of sickle cell disease (SCD), with a high death rate, observed mainly in patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia. Herein, we describe a case of severe SCIC treated successfully with aggressive manual exchange transfusion (ET). The patient was admitted with enlarged liver and signs of hepatic failure, such as hyperbilirubinemia and coagulopathy.

Effects of hydroxyurea on the membrane of erythrocytes and platelets in sickle cell anemia.

Background And Objectives: Adhesion molecules on the surface of erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets are involved in vascular occlusion in sickle cell anemia. Hydroxyurea treatment of sickle cell anemia patients leads to clinical improvement and reduces the incidence of vaso-occlusive episodes. It has been previously demonstrated that hydroxyurea treatment also reduces the expression of adhesion molecules on the surface of erythrocytes.

Molecular investigation of GB virus C RNA in hemodialysis and thalassemics patients from Brazil.

The GB virus C (GBV-C)/hepatitis G virus (HGV) is a member of the Flaviviridae family. Based on the clinical and epidemiological profiles, this virus could be acquired mainly by parenteral transmission through contaminated blood. We therefore investigated the presence of GBV-C/HGV and its relation with the other blood borne viruses as hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) in hemodialysis and thalassemic individuals and blood donors from Ribeirão Preto-Brazil.