Transfusion reaction identification and management at the bedside.

Blood product transfusion is one of the most common invasive procedures performed in the health care setting. In contrast to pharmaceuticals, blood is actually a liquid transplant. Transfusion complications consequently encompass complex biological processes and infectious possibilities.

Severe fetal and neonatal hemolytic anemia due to a 198 kb deletion removing the complete β-globin gene cluster.

Fetal and neonatal hemolytic anemia can be caused by (γδβ)(0)-thalassemia deletions of the β-globin gene cluster. Many of these deletions have not been well characterized, and diagnostic tests are not readily available, thus hampering carrier detection, family counseling, and antenatal diagnosis. We report and define a 198 kb deletion removing the entire β-globin gene cluster, which was found in members of a multigeneration family of Irish/Scottish descent.

Sickle cell disease caused by heterozygosity for Hb S and novel LCR deletion: Report of two patients.

The b-globin gene LCR is located approximately 6 kb upstream of the embryonic epsilon-globin gene, and is made up of five DNase I hypersensitive sites (HSs), HS 1-5. LCR plays a pivotal role in regulating the expression of downstream epsilon-, (G)gamma-, (A)gamma-, delta-, and beta-globin genes in cis [1]. Deletions removing the LCR and parts of the downstream beta-globin gene cluster in patients have been described [2].