Intravenous methylprednisolone with or without tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen support: A prospective comparison.

Background: Cytokine storm is a marker of severity and severe mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Immunomodulatory treatments may reduce morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To determine whether a 7-day course of methylprednisolone (MP) administered with and without tocilizumab improves outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy, relative to historical controls.

A 1-year randomized controlled trial of deferasirox vs deferoxamine for myocardial iron removal in β-thalassemia major (CORDELIA).

Randomized comparison data on the efficacy and safety of deferasirox for myocardial iron removal in transfusion dependent patients are lacking. CORDELIA was a prospective, randomized comparison of deferasirox (target dose 40 mg/kg per day) vs subcutaneous deferoxamine (50-60 mg/kg per day for 5-7 days/week) for myocardial iron removal in 197 β-thalassemia major patients with myocardial siderosis (T2* 6-20 milliseconds) and no signs of cardiac dysfunction (mean age, 19.8 years).

Hemoglobinopathy carrier prevalence in the United Arab Emirates: first analysis of the Dubai Health Authority premarital screening program results.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hemoglobinopathy carriers in United Arab Emirates (UAE) nationals subjected to mandatory premarital screening in Dubai over a 4-year period. Data from UAE nationals who underwent premarital screening by the Dubai Health Authority between January 2007 and December 2010 were collected and analyzed. Premarital screening in Dubai is based on complete blood counts (CBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Prevalence of iron overload complications among patients with b-thalassemia major treated at Dubai Thalassemia Centre.

Background And Objectives: Authors and team members of the Dubai Thalassemia Centre obtained data on the prevalence of iron overload complications among patients with b-thalassemia major (b-TM) and compared it to international data to improve patient care and evaluate the effectiveness of earlier used treatment modalities. The information obtained is also expected to be useful in genetic counseling.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study of all living transfusion-dependent b-TM patients registered at the Thalassemia Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, until the end of 2007 (n=382).

Misdiagnosis of Hb D-Punjab/β-thalassemia is a potential pitfall in hemoglobinopathy screening programs: a case report.

Compound heterozygosity for Hb D-Punjab [β121(GH4)Glu→Gln, GAA>CAA] /β-thalassemia (β-thal) must be carefully differentiated from homozygous Hb D-Punjab in premarital screening. This is essential when the partner is a carrier of β-thal trait. The case of a baby born affected with β-thal major (β-TM), from a marriage between a mother with β-thal trait and a father with Hb D-Punjab/β-thal, is presented.

Serum ferritin levels and endocrinopathy in medically treated patients with β thalassemia major.

The association between iron overload indices and pathology of the heart and liver in transfusion-dependent patients with β thalassemia major (TM) has been extensively studied. Nonetheless, data on endocrine disease remains limited. This was a cross-sectional study of 382 TM patients treated with regular transfusions and desferrioxamine at the Thalassemia Center in Dubai, UAE.