Hematologic reference intervals for healthy adult Saudis in Riyadh.

Background: Laboratory hematological tests are widely used in clinical practice to assess health and disease conditions. Reference ranges provided by laboratory reports are considered the most authoritative medical tools to assist in the decision-making phase. International standards institutes recommend that reference ranges be established for each region.

Implementation of total laboratory automation at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia: effect on turnaround time and cost efficiency.

Background: Total laboratory automation (TLA) is a relatively new way of improving the management of high volume clinical laboratories. TLA may reduce staff, reduce operating costs, decrease testing time and provide enhanced process control.

Objectives: Establish a cost efficient TLA that is less labor intensive, improves productivity and reduces turnaround time (TAT).

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Relapse Presenting With Central Nervous System Blast Crisis and Bilateral Optic Nerve Infiltration.

Bilateral, simultaneous optic nerve sheath infiltration as a manifestation of leukemia relapse is very rare. A 45-year-old woman with chronic myelogenous leukemia was successfully treated to cytogenetic bone marrow remission 1 year previously and maintained on imatinib. She developed total bilateral blindness with marked, bilateral optic disc edema and evidence of bilateral optic nerve infiltration on magnetic resonance imaging.

Outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation with a conditioning regimen of busulfan, cyclophosphamide and low-dose etoposide for children with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) offers the best chance of cure and long-term survival for children with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Design And Setting: Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with primary MDS treated with allogeneic SCT at a single institution treated between January 1993 and December 2008.

Patients And Methods: Of 16 consecutive children who received allogeneic SCT for treatment of MDS in our center, 14 patients met the criteria of MDS according WHO I and II criteria.