A Case Report of Occult Weak 'A' Subgroup: An Important Message for Renal Transplant Physicians.

Accurate ABO grouping is the cornerstone of a successful ABO-compatible organ transplant. While conventional methods identify blood groups accurately in most cases, rare and weak blood groups could occasionally be misread/missed. Weak A subgroups such as A3, Ax, Aend, Am, Ay, and Ael are often mistyped as group O.

Allogeneic stem cell transplant for myelofibrosis- A retrospective single-center study.

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is currently the only curative treatment option for myelofibrosis (MF). Despite the benefits of long-term relapse-free survival, HSCT can be associated with substantial treatment-related morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This is an observational retrospective study of 15 consecutive patients with MF who underwent allogeneic HSCT at a tertiary care center in Northern India between June 2012 and January 2020.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Hematological Malignancies: Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in Northern India and Review of Indian Data.

Sanjeev Kumar SharmaHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the preferred treatment for high-risk and relapsed/refractory hematological malignancies. Moreover, with the improved supportive care and increasing acceptance of haploidentical transplantations as an alternative treatment modality, more patients are opting for HSCT as a definite treatment for hematological malignancies. We report here the real-world data and outcome of HSCT done for hematological malignancies at our transplant center.

Development and validation of novel kit for quantification of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on clinical samples.

Since the pandemic occurred due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, there has always been a demand for a simple and sensitive diagnostic kit for detection of SARS-Cov-2 infection. In January 2020, WHO approved the Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) for detecting the presence of Covid-19 genetic material in individuals. Till date many diagnostic kits have arrived in the market for quantification of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a Patient with Brucella Infection.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by disseminated thrombotic occlusions in the microcirculation and a syndrome of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia, fever, renal and neurologic abnormalities. Several factors such as viral and bacterial pathogens, pancreatitis, drugs, collagen-vascular diseases, cancers, and pregnancy have been reported to cause TTP, Brucellosis is an exceptional cause of this disorder. We present a case of a 33 year old male who was found to have Brucella antigen (IgG) positivity who responded well to antibiotic therapy directed to Brucella infection.

Myeloablative Versus Reduced Intensity Conditioning Regimens for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Retrospective Analysis.

The conditioning regimens used for the allo-HSCT include either myeloablative conditioning (MAC) or reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens based on the age, performance status and co-morbidities. Studies comparing the survival outcomes of RIC and MAC allo-HSCT in AML and MDS patients have reported contradictory results. We therefore retrospectively analyzed our data of AML and MDS patients who received MAC and RIC allo-HSCT at our center and compared the long term outcome of the two conditioning regimens.

Use of face mask by blood donors during the COVID-19 pandemic: Impact on donor hemoglobin concentration: A bane or a boon.

Background: COVID-19 virus has caused the world's deadliest pandemic. Early April 2020, the Delhi Government made it compulsory for people to wear face masks while going outdoors to curb disease spread. Prolonged use of surgical masks during the pandemic has been reported to cause many adverse effects.

T-cell replete Haplo-identical HSCT with Post transplant Cyclophosphamide for Hemoglobinopathies: A retrospective analysis from a single center.

We report herein haplo-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) by T-cell replete graft infusion, with post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) in patients with hemoglobinopathies. Patients received a conditioning regimen consisting of either busulfan, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, with antithymocyte globulin or Thiotepa, antithymocyte globulin, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and TBI. The median follow-up period was 14.

Convalescent plasma therapy and remdesivir duo successfully salvaged an early liver transplant recipient with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

The impact and clinical spectrum of COVID-19 infection in liver transplant recipients/solid organ transplants are being unveiled during this recent pandemic. The clinical experience of use of current antiviral drugs and immunomodulators are sparse in solid organ transplantation. We present the clinical course of a 49-year-old male recipient who underwent living donor liver transplant for recurrent gastrointestinal bleed and contracted severe COVID-19 pneumonia during the third postoperative week.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Fanconi Anemia: A Single Center Experience from India.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only treatment option for the hematological manifestations of Fanconi anemia (FA). Fludarabine based reduced intensity conditioning regimens have helped in improving outcomes significantly in FA patients. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of FA patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT at BLK Superspeciality Hospital, New Delhi from June 2011 to September 2019.

Real-world outcomes of stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia: A single-center experience in Northern India.

Introduction: Stem cell transplantation is the cornerstone of therapy for transplant-eligible patients with severe aplastic anemia.

Materials And Methods: Patients with severe aplastic anemia undergoing stem cell transplantation (including matched haplo-identical related donors) with a standard conditioning regimen and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis were analyzed. High-risk patients were identified as having undergone >20 pre-transplant transfusions, having febrile neutropenia at the time of transplantation, or having undergone failed immunosuppressive therapy.

Allogenic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Thalassemia Major: A Single-center Retrospective Analysis From India.

Thalassemia is a major public health problem in developing countries. Sibling matched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is the recommended treatment for thalassemia major (TM). We retrospectively analyzed our data of thalassemia major patients who underwent HCT at a tertiary care center in Northern India from January 2008 to September 2017.

Outcome of 51 autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplants after uncontrolled-rate freezing ("dump freezing") using -80°C mechanical freezer.

Background And Objective: Controlled-rate freezing is a complicated, expensive, and time-consuming procedure. Therefore, there is a growing interest in uncontrolled-rate freezing (UCF) with -80°C mechanical freezers for cryopreservation of hematopoietic stem cells. This is a retrospective analysis of efficiency of UCF and outcome of autologous peripheral hematopoietic stem cell (PBSC) transplants at our center from December 2011 to June 2016.

Extracorporeal photopheresis: Review of technical aspects.

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is considered as an immune modulating therapy majorly targeting the T cells of the Immune system. ECP induces an anti-inflammatory condition with tolerogenic responses without inducing a global immunosuppression state which is a typical feature of other therapeutic options such as steroids. Clinical indication of ECP has grown over time since its initial applications.

Comparison of Amicus and COBE Spectra for allogenic peripheral blood stem cell harvest: Study from tertiary care centre in India.

Introduction: Most common source of stem cell graft for both autologous and allogenic haematopoietic transplants are peripheral blood haematopoietic progenitor stem cells. Adequate collection of the CD34+ cells and safety of the allogenic donor during the leukapheresis are of prime importance to an apheresis physician. Our retrospective analysis is a comparison between of two platforms namely, COBE Spectra and Amicus, for CD34+ mononuclear cell collection.

Prophylactic low dose continuous calcium infusion during peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) collections to reduce citrate related toxicity.

Background: Citrate toxicity is one of the most frequent complications of apheresis procedures. It is caused by the infusion of the acid citrate dextrose (ACD), which chelates the calcium ions.

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic continuous infusion of calcium gluconate over intermittent bolus infusion to reduce citrate toxicity during large volume peripheral blood stem cell collection.

Anti-m antibody in solid tumors-two case reports.

Anti-M antibodies are usually of IgM, appear as cold agglutinins and are clinically insignificant. We are reporting two cases of anti-M in cases of solid tumors where the anti-M caused discrepancy in blood grouping, reacted in coombs phase of crossmatching. Anti-M in first case showed dosage effect.

Cost of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in India.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a definite cure for many hematological diseases. With the increasing indications for HSCT and its relatively low cost in Indian subcontinent, an increasing number of patients are opting for this procedure. We retrospectively analyzed the cost of one hundred sixty two HSCTs done at our center in the last three years.

Treosulfan-thiotepa-fludarabine-based conditioning regimen for allogeneic transplantation in patients with thalassemia major: a single-center experience from north India.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the definite treatment for patients with thalassemia major. A busulfan (Bu) and cyclophosphamide (Cy)-based regimen has been the standard myeloablative chemotherapy, but it is associated with higher treatment-related toxicity, particularly in patients classified as high risk by the Pesaro criteria. Treosulfan-based conditioning regimens have been found to be equally effective and less toxic.