Blood transfusion practice: a nationwide survey in Italy.

Background: Blood transfusion is a complex activity. Some of the components of this activity are implementation of standard procedures, evaluation of appropriateness of the blood use, methods for bedside identification of patients and the release of blood in emergencies, during out-of-routine hours and from hospitals lacking a Blood Centre. An overview about how these issues are managed in Italy could be of interest.

Factors influencing outcome of lamivudine in anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B.

Background/aims: Lamivudine has been shown to benefit patients with anti-HBe/HBV-DNA-positive chronic hepatitis B. The aim of the study was to evaluate factors influencing outcome of lamivudine therapy during two years of post-treatment follow-up in a prospective clinical trial.

Methodology: Thirty-one consecutive patients, submitted to liver biopsy, were treated with lamivudine at 100mg/daily for twelve months and followed-up for twenty-four months.

A post-partum hemolytic-uremic-like-syndrome in a patient with pre-eclampsia: description of a clinical case.

HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME POST-PARTUM: We describe a case of a 37-year-old woman admitted for severe renal failure to our hospital immediately after the delivery by caesarean section of twins. She had anuria, anemia, and moderate thrombocytopenia. A diagnosis of hemolytic-uremic syndrome was made.