Investigation of an algorithm for anti HCV EIA reactivity in blood donor screening in Turkey in the absence of nucleic acid amplification screening.

Purpose: In this study we aimed to propose an algorithm for initial anti HCV EIA reactive blood donations in Turkey where nucleic acid amplification tests are not yet obligatory for donor screening.

Methods: A total of 416 anti HCV screening test reactive donor samples collected from 13 blood centers from three cities in Turkey were tested in duplicate by Ortho HCV Ab Version 3.0 and Radim HCV Ab.

Comparison of the CoaguChek XS handheld coagulation analyzer and conventional laboratory methods measuring international normalised ratio (INR) values during the time to therapeutic range after mechanical valve surgery.

Aim: To compare the international normalised ratio (INR) value of patients evaluated using the CoaguChek XS versus conventional laboratory methods, in the period after open-heart surgery for mechanical valve replacement until a therapeutic range is achieved using vitamin K antagonists (VKA) together with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH).

Methods: One hundred and five patients undergoing open-heart surgery for mechanical valve replacement were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from patients before surgery, and on the second and fifth postoperative days, simultaneously for both the point of care device and conventional laboratory techniques.

Etiology and portal vein thrombosis in Budd-Chiari syndrome.

Aim: To research the etiology, portal vein thrombosis and other features of Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) patients prospectively.

Methods: A total of 75 patients (40 female, 35 male) who were diagnosed between January 2002 and July 2004 as having BCS were studied prospectively. Findings from on physical examination, ultrasonography, duplex ultrasonography and venography were analyzed.

Coagulation, fibrinolytic system activation and endothelial dysfunction in patients with mitral stenosis and sinus rhythm.

Anticoagulation treatment can prevent systemic embolism in patients with mitral stenosis (MS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), but this treatment is under debate if patients are in sinus rhythm. The authors aimed to determine the hemostatic changes in patients with MS and sinus rhythm. Forty-six patients (28 in sinus rhythm and 18 in AF) with mitral stenosis were enrolled in this study.

The plateled-derived growth factor level (PDGF) in Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and its relationship disease activation.

The research reported in this paper was designed to study the role of plateled-derived growth factor (PDGF) in Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). The PDGF levels in 9 patients with HD and 12 NHL and in a control group consisting of 20 people, was measured by ELISA method. The PDGF values in the disease group of 19 patients were raised.

Regional left atrial coagulation and fibrinolytic activities in patients with mitral stenosis.

Systemic thromboembolism is a major complication of mitral stenosis (MS), especially in those patients having atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent evidence has suggested that regional left atrial coagulation activity may be increased in MS and may contribute to the pathophysiology of left atrial thrombus. However, the relation of left atrial coagulation activity to factors that predispose to left atrial thrombus formation is unknown.