Impact of prophylaxis on health-related quality of life of boys with hemophilia: An analysis of pooled data from 9 countries.

Background: Prophylaxis reduces the frequency of bleeds in boys with severe hemophilia and is the standard care for their management in resource-abundant countries. The effect of prophylaxis on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has not been established, because the sample sizes of most studies are too small to explore the relationship of multiple factors that influence HRQoL.

Methods: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of hemophilia severity and treatment regimen on HRQoL and to establish the minimum important difference (MID) using the international level of score distributions.

The Jamaican Haemophilia Registry: Describing the burden of disease.

Introduction: Jamaica has an estimated 200 persons with haemophilia (PWH), who face significant constraints in access to specialized haemophilia care, including access to clotting factor concentrates.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to establish the current burden of disease in PWH in Jamaica.

Methods: PWH were enrolled through the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica.

Evolution of blood donation patterns in a hospital-based blood centre over a seven-year period: implications for donor recruitment and retention.

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a public appeal to encourage voluntary blood donation by comparing the pattern of blood donations in 2000 and 2007.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of blood donation records was conducted at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) Blood Collection Centre from April to December of 2000 and 2007. Data were analysed to identify any significant changes in donation patterns and donor profiles.

Clinical and biochemical profile of monoclonal gammopathies in Caribbean patients in a resource-limited setting.

Background: Multiple myeloma is the most common malignant plasma cell dyscrasia and ranks second among primary haematological malignancies. This study describes the epidemiologic, clinical and pathologic profile of monoclonal gammopathies seen in the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), a tertiary care referral centre.

Materials And Method: A retrospective analysis of 85 cases diagnosed at UHWI over the 5-year period 2003-2007 was conducted.

Late-onset Fanconi anemia in an African-Caribbean patient.

A 38-year-old female of African-Caribbean origin presented with symptomatic anemia and was found to have hypoplastic thumbs and patchy hypopigmentation. Peripheral blood examination revealed pancytopenia and the bone marrow biopsy confirmed marrow hypoplasia. Fanconi anemia was later confirmed by flow cytometry and diepoxybutane testing.