Linezolid-Resistant Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus HemolyticusIsolated from Leukemic Patient: First Case Report from Pakistan.

Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcusposes a challenging situation in healthcare settings. The spread of resistance among such organisms against major drugs is alarming as it limits the treatment options for serious infections. Traditionally, Vancomycin had remained a mainstay of treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci.

Gitelman Syndrome.

Gitelman syndrome (GS) is the most frequently inherited renal salt-wasting tubulointerstitial disease. It follows variable but usually asymptomatic benign course. We present a rare case of GS that remained clinical enigma.

Clinico-Haematological Features of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of various clinico-haematological features in patients suffering from paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). It was an observational study carried out from October 2008 - January 2016. All the patients of PNH, diagnosed on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings and confirmed by CD55 and CD59 deficiency on red cells by means of flow cytometry, were included in the study.

Comparative Analysis of Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction in Diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Objective: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).

Study Design: A cross-sectional, analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Haematology Department, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from January 2012 to February 2014.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Serum Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) in Iron Deficiency State.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) in detection of iron deficiency.

Study Design: Descriptive, analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, from January 2013 to October 2015.

Sensitivity Pattern of Second Line Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs against Clinical Isolates of Multidrug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Objective: To determine the current sensitivity pattern of second line anti-tuberculosis drugs against clinical isolates of Multidrug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Microbiology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from November 2011 to April 2013.

High prevalence of protein C, protein S, antithrombin deficiency, and Factor V Leiden mutation as a cause of hereditary thrombophilia in patients of venous thromboembolism and cerebrovascular accident.

Objectives: To determine the frequency of Protein C, Protein S (PC & PS), antithrombin deficiency (AT III) and Factor V Leiden mutation (FVL) as a cause of thrombophilia in the patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA).

Methods: It was an observational study conducted at Department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. All patients referred for thrombophilia screening from July 2009 to June 2012 were screened.

Frequency of Gγ-globin promoter -158 (C>T) XmnI polymorphism in patients with homozygous/compound heterozygous beta thalassaemia.

Background: Response to hydroxyurea therapy in homozygous or compound heterozygous beta thalassaemia (BT) has been reported as more favourable in the presence of XmnI polymorphism. The prevalence of XmnI polymorphism may vary with BT phenotypes and genotypes, and differs geographically in distribution. Prevalence of XmnI polymorphism is not known in northern Pakistan.

Guidelines on the laboratory diagnosis of congenital bleeding disorders in Pakistan.

Congenital bleeding disorders are found in all racial groups and are present worldwide. Among all of them haemophilia A, B and Von Willebrand's disease are the commonest and they are characterized by the low blood levels of factor VIII, IX and Von Willebrand's factor respectively. Severity of bleeding is proportional to the severity of factor deficiency.

Outcome of combination antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C virus infection during therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is not uncommon in patients with acute leukemia due to frequent blood transfusions. The treatment of HCV in patients with acute leukemia can produce profound immune dysfunction with the risk of severe cytopenia. We report the case of a young man who was treated with combined therapy of peginterferon α 2a and ribavirin for HCV while he was on maintenance anti-leukemic treatment.

Association of Helicobacter pylori infection with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Objective: To determine the association of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients presenting with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Methods: From March 2007 to March 2008, thirty adult patients with ITP and 30 age and sex matched healthy controls were investigated for the presence of H. pylori infection by Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) based method.

Successful treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in patients with sickle cell disease.

The objective of this case series was to determine the efficacy and safety of combined treatment with ribavirin and peginterferon alpha-2a in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) hepatitis. Eight patients in King Abdulaziz Hospital & Oncology Center, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2003 and 2006 with chronic HCV infection were treated with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin for one year. All 8 patients had a complete early virological response.

Control of severe bleeding episode in case of Glanzmann's thrombasthenia refractory to platelet transfusion therapy by administering recombinant factor VIIa.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is an autosomal recessive inherited platelet function defect. Though, quantitatively normal, the aggregation ability of platelets is reduced leading to bleeding episodes requiring transfusion of platelet concentrates. We describe a case of 13-year-old girl who had recurrent episodes of epistaxis since birth and was managed with multiple platelet concentrate transfusions and recently admitted with severe epistaxis refractory to platelet transfusion.

Eosinophilic gastritis; an unusual and overlooked cause of chronic abdominal pain.

Eosinophilic gastritis is an extremely rare disorder. The disease is associated with eosinophilic infiltration of various layers of gastrointestinal tract along with significant peripheral eosinophilia and increased Immunoglobulin E (IgE). We report a case of 37 year old Saudi male who presented with chronic non-specific upper abdominal pain.

Characteristics of dengue fever in a large public hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Background: This study aims to determine demographic, clinical and laboratory profile along with disease outcome of all confirmed cases of dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) admitted in King Abdulaziz Hospital & Oncology Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We also want to highlight the significance of implementing a well targeted community based disease prevention program.

Methods: All patients admitted from May 2004 till April 2005 with a suspected diagnosis of DF and DHF were followed.

Prevalence of prothrombin gene mutation (G-A 20210 A) in general population: a pilot study.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of prothrombin gene mutation in a sample population from Pakistan. Two hundred apparently healthy unrelated adults (older than 18 years) were included in the study. The sample population comprised 100 Punjabis (male 50, female 50) and 100 Pathans (male 50, female 50).

Efficacy and adverse effects of oral iron chelator deferiprone (l1, 1,2- dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one) in patients with beta thalassaemia major in Pakistan.

Background: Deferiprone (DFP,L1) is a bidentate oral iron chelator which binds to iron in a 3:1 ratio. It has the potential advantage of reduced cost and increased compliance. We conducted a study in order to determine the efficacy and adverse effects of DFP in Pakistani thalassaemic patients.

Effect of HCV infection on hepatic fibrosis in patients of thalassaemia major.

Objective: To investigate the effect of HCV infection on hepatic fibrosis in patients of thalassaemia major with iron overload in order to modify Pesaro criteria for classification into prognostic groups for allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplant in these patients.

Design: Cross-sectional comparative study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Center and Departments of Pediatrics of Military Hospital and Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2003 to June 2004.

Clinicopathological features of lupus anticoagulant; experience at AFIP during last seven years.

Background: The lupus anticoagulant (LA) belongs to family of immunoglobulins, most commonly an IgG isotype. These antibodies have been identified most frequently in association with thromboembolic events, recurrent fetal loss and thrombocytopenia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presenting clinical and pathological features in patients LA positive presenting at AFIP Rawalpindi over the period of Jan 1993 to Nov 2000.

Evaluation of serum transferrin receptor concentration in diagnosing and differentiating iron deficiency anaemia from anaemia of chronic disorders.

Objective: To diagnose and differentiate iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) from anaemia of chronic disorders (ACD) using serum concentration of soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR).

Methods: One hundred and seventy six adult anaemic patients were diagnosed on bone marrow examination as IDA and ACD in the Department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi from November 2001 to May 2003. They were further evaluated with sTfR, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and serum ferritin.

Frequency of factor V leiden mutation.

Objective: To determine the frequency of factor V leiden mutation.

Design: Observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: One-year, January 2001 to December 2001 at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Factor X deficiency in North Pakistan.

Background: Factor X deficiency is one of the most rare hereditary coagulation disorders. In populations where rate of consanguineous marriages is high, rare hereditary disorders also flourish. Pakistan is one of those countries.