Iodine Deficiency in Patients with Hypothyroidism: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Worldwide, 21 countries have insufficient iodine in their diets. Persistent iodine deficiency may result in hypothyroidism. The aim of this study is to determine whether iodine measurements can be used to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency in patients with (subclinical) hypothyroidism compared to a control group.

Bleeding and bruising in Osteogenesis Imperfecta: International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis bleeding assessment tool and haemostasis laboratory assessment in 22 individuals.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is characterized by susceptibility to bone fractures. Other symptoms, such as easy bruising and bleeding complications during surgery necessitating transfusions, have also been reported. The aim of the cross-sectional pilot study was to assess the bleeding and bruising tendency in OI patients and to screen for possible underlying haematological disorders.

Transition from fresh frozen plasma to solvent/detergent plasma in the Netherlands: comparing clinical use and transfusion reaction risks.

Plasma transfusion is indicated for replenishment of coagulative proteins to stop or prevent bleeding. In 2014, the Netherlands switched from using ~300mL fresh frozen plasma (FFP) units to using 200mL Omniplasma, a solvent/detergent treated pooled plasma (SD plasma), units. We evaluated the effect of the introduction of SD plasma on clinical plasma use, associated bleeding, and transfusion reaction incidences.

Establishing the Cause of Anemia in a Premature Newborn Infant.

The three major causes of anemia in neonates are blood loss, decreased red blood cell production, and increased degradation of erythrocytes. Establishing the cause of anemia in a neonate born prematurely can be challenging. Clinically, fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) can be difficult to diagnose-the condition often presents only after the manifestation of severe fetal anemia.

Age of platelet concentrates and time to the next transfusion.

Background: Storage time of platelet (PLT) concentrates has been negatively associated with clinical efficacy outcomes. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between storage time of PLT concentrates and interval to the next PLT transfusion for different types of PLT components, stored for up to 7 days and transfused to transfusion-dependent hematooncology patients with thrombocytopenia.

Study Design And Methods: From a cohort of patients from 10 major Dutch hospitals, patients were selected whose transfusion patterns were compatible with PLT transfusion dependency due to hematooncologic disease.

Validation of multisource electronic health record data: an application to blood transfusion data.

Background: Although data from electronic health records (EHR) are often used for research purposes, systematic validation of these data prior to their use is not standard practice. Existing validation frameworks discuss validity concepts without translating these into practical implementation steps or addressing the potential influence of linking multiple sources. Therefore we developed a practical approach for validating routinely collected data from multiple sources and to apply it to a blood transfusion data warehouse to evaluate the usability in practice.

Storage time of platelet concentrates and all-cause bacteremia in hematologic patients.

Background: Extension of storage time of platelet (PLT) concentrates may result in an increased risk of bacteremia, directly via transfusion of contaminated products or indirectly via transfusion-related immunomodulation. We aimed to quantify the association of storage time of PLT concentrates and all-cause bacteremia in hematologic patients.

Study Design And Methods: We established a cohort of hematologic patients who received a PLT transfusion between 2005 and 2015.

Does sampling site influence levels of free thyroxine and thyrotropin determined by a current immunoassay?

Objectives: To examine the effect of sampling site on levels of free thyroxine (fT4) and thyrotropin (TSH).

Design And Methods: fT4 and TSH were determined by a current immuno-assay in paired samples of capillary and venous blood drawn from 30 euthyroid adults.

Results: Mean levels of fT4 and TSH did not differ significantly between capillary and venous blood; capillary and venous levels correlated well and did not differ significantly from unity.

Immunofluorescence versus ELISA for the detection of antinuclear antigens.

Determining the presence and specificity of antinuclear antigens (ANA) is a challenge to a laboratory involved in the diagnosis of connective tissue disease (CTD). The immunofluorescent technique (IF), once considered the gold standard, is more and more displaced by ELISA. ELISA can be fully automated and the interpretation does not require the extensive experience needed in IF.