Testing for lactase non-persistence in a Dutch population: Genotyping versus the hydrogen breath test.

Background: Lactose intolerance is defined as the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, abdominal pain or diarrhoea, after consumption of lactose in individuals with lactose malabsorption. Most cases involve primary lactose intolerance, caused by a loss of activity of the enzyme lactase, needed for digestion of lactose. A traditional method of establishing lactose intolerance is the hydrogen breath test (HBT), accompanied by a questionnaire to document complaints experienced by the patient during the test.

The accuracy of mean corpuscular volume guided anaemia classification in primary care.

Background: Anemia can be categorized into micro-, normo- or macrocytic anemia based on the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). This categorization might help to define the etiology of anemia.

Methods: The cohort consisted of patients newly diagnosed with anaemia in primary care.

Long-term outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia in general practice: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To describe all iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)-related causes during follow-up of patients newly diagnosed with IDA and to assess whether a delayed colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis influences survival.

Design And Setting: Retrospective cohort study of patients from general practices in the Dordrecht area, the Netherlands.

Participants: Men and women aged ≥50 years with a new diagnosis of IDA (ie, no anaemia 2 years previously).

Abdominal pain in combination with an unexplained hemolytic anemia are crucial signs to test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: A case report.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), a rare benign hematological disorder, presents with a wide variety of clinical symptoms. A direct Coombs-negative hemolytic anemia combined with an increased LDH = Lactate dehydrogenase level are signs to test for PNH. Follow-up does not need any microscopic review's only flow cytometric PNH clone size.

Diagnostics in anaemia of chronic disease in general practice: a real-world retrospective cohort study.

Background: Limited research has been performed that focused on the diagnosis of the underlying cause of anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) in general practice or on prevalence data of the underlying causes of ACD in general practice, although this is one of the most common types of anaemia.

Aim: To clarify the diagnostic strategies of GPs in patients newly diagnosed with ACD and to determine the most common underlying causes.

Design & Setting: Retrospective cohort study.

Assessing the cost-effectiveness of a routine versus an extensive laboratory work-up in the diagnosis of anaemia in Dutch general practice.

Background Establishing the underlying cause of anaemia in general practice is a diagnostic challenge. Currently, general practitioners individually determine which laboratory tests to request (routine work-up) in order to diagnose the underlying cause. However, an extensive work-up (consisting of 14 tests) increases the proportion of patients correctly diagnosed.

The effectiveness of a routine versus an extensive laboratory analysis in the diagnosis of anaemia in general practice.

Background We investigated the percentage of patients diagnosed with the correct underlying cause of anaemia by general practitioners when using an extensive versus a routine laboratory work-up. Methods An online survey was distributed among 836 general practitioners. The survey consisted of six cases, selected from an existing cohort of anaemia patients ( n = 3325).

Prevalence of potential underlying aetiology of macrocytic anaemia in Dutch general practice.

Background: Macrocytic anaemia (MCV ≥ 100 fL) is a relatively common finding in general practice. However, literature on the prevalence of the different causes in this population is limited. The prevalence of macrocytic anaemia and its underlying aetiology were analysed in a general practice population.

Interlaboratory Reproducibility of Blood Morphology Using the Digital Microscope.

Differential counting of peripheral blood cells is an important diagnostic tool. However, manual morphological analysis using the microscope is time-consuming and requires highly trained personnel. The digital microscope is capable of performing an automated peripheral blood cell differential, which is as reliable as manual classification by experienced laboratory technicians.

Extreme elevation of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity: always consider familial ACE hyperactivity.

Measurement of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity can be helpful in the diagnosis and disease monitoring of sarcoidosis. Elevated serum ACE activity is found in 60-70% of sarcoidosis patients. Usually, the ACE activity is mildly increased (<3-fold the upper limit of the reference range) in sarcoidosis patients.