Active spread of β-thalassemia beyond the thalassemia belt: A study on a Russian population.

β-Thalassemia is a disease traditionally associated with thalassemia belt countries. Nonetheless, as global migration intensifies, β-thalassemia-causing variants spread far from their origin. We investigated this process to detect some patterns underlying its course.

[Iron deficiency anemia in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Case report].

Rendu-Osler-Weber disease or hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a rare autosomal dominant disease. It is characterized by vascular dysplasia with the formation of telangiectasias on the skin, mucous membranes of the respiratory and digestive tracts, arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the internal organs, which is manifested by bleeding. Diagnosis is based on Curacao criteria: recurrent and spontaneous nosebleeds, multiple telangiectases on the characteristic localizations, AVMs in one or more of the internal organs, a family history of HHT (i.

Hb Ryazan: An Elongated C-Terminal β-Chain Due to a New Frameshift Mutation, HBB: c.396delG p.Val133Trpfs*25.

We identified a novel abnormal hemoglobin variant caused by a frameshift mutation at nucleotide position 396 in exon 3 of the β-globin gene (): NM_000518:c.396delG. This variant causes an emergence of alternative amino acid sequence starting at codon 133 and a new stop codon formed in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of the gene at amino acid position 158.

Diagnostic significance of flow cytometry scales in diagnostics of myelodysplastic syndromes.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) can present a challenge for clinicians. Multicolor flow cytometry (MFC) can aid in establishing a diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal MFC approach for MDS.

[Autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with mesenteric teratoma].

The paper describes a case of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in a 27-year-old woman whose examination revealed mesenteric teratoma. AIHA was characterized by a hypertensive crisis and a temporary response to corticosteroid therapy that was complicated by the development of somatogenic psychosis and discontinued. A relapse of hemolysis developed 6 months later.

Expansion of CD8+ cells in autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare blood disease associated with the production of auto-antibodies and autoimmune hemolysis. A critical role of B-cells in the development of AIHA has been demonstrated before. Here, we present the analysis of the clonal T-cell populations in patients with AIHA.

Eculizumab effect on the hemostatic state in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by a hypercoagulable state associated with acute hemolysis. Eculizumab is used to reduce the intensity of intravascular hemolysis in PNH patients. The hemostatic status of three patients with PNH was assessed during eculizumab treatment by D-dimer assay and the global assays: thromboelastography (TEG), thrombin generation test (TGТ), and thrombodynamics (TD).

[The method of analysis of distribution of erythrocytes by density: practical guidelines].

The article describes the phthalate method of analysis of distribution of erythrocytes by density and demonstrates its possibility. The distribution of erythrocytes by density is implemented using centrifugation of blood in micro-hematocrit capillaries in presence of compounds of dimethyl- and dibuthylphthalates of known density. The acquisition of such clinically reliable parameters of distribution of erythrocytes by density as mean density of erythrocytes, width of distribution of erythrocytes by density, light and heavy fraction of erythrocytes and maximum of curve of distribution of erythrocytes by density is described.

Laboratory tests for coagulation system monitoring in a patient with β-thalassemia.

Sensitive methods for assessment of the hemostatic state are essential for providing adequate therapy to patients with β-thalassemia. The present study was designed to monitor the changes in the hemostatic state of a patient with β-thalassemia at the primary stage and under heparin treatment following splenectomy. The hemostatic state of the patient was assessed using conventional tests (activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin index, thrombin time), fibrinogen and D-dimer assays, thromboelastography (TEG), thrombin generation test, and a novel thrombodynamics clot growth assay.

[The ratio between basic microelements (Fe, Cu, Zn) under anemia of different etiology].

The homeostasis of basic microelements (Fe, Cu and Zn) is ultimately important for normal functioning of organism. The article presents the data concerning the detection of these metals both in blood serum and urine of patients with anemia of different etiology. The indicators of excretion can provide additional information for diagnostics and needed therapy.

Filtration method for studies of the kinetics of hypo-osmotic pore closure in erythrocyte.

Filterability of erythrocytes through small (3 μ) pores decreases with decreasing osmolarity of suspension medium because of hypo-osmotic swelling of cells. After appearance of lytic pores, erythrocyte filterability increases for some time, while after recovery of membrane integrity it decreases again. We suggest filtration method for studies of the kinetics of hypo-osmotic lytic pores closure.

[A case of hemolytic-uremic syndrome with development of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: diagnosis and clinical tactics].

The paper describes a case of practically simultaneous development of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and the catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) complicated by mesenteric vessel thrombosis and small bowel necrosis. Multimodality treatment comprising volume plasmapheresis, fresh frozen plasma transfusion, hemodialysis, anticoagulant and disaggregant therapy could relieve thrombogenic events, such as pulmonary artery thromboembolism and intestinal necrosis.

[Study of bone marrow microvessel density is one of the diagnostic approaches in patients with Ph-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases].

Aim: To define an association of bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) with histological properties (the magnitude of fibrosis and quantification of megakaryocytes (MGKC)) in patients with Ph-negative chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPD).

Subjects And Methods: MVD was analyzed in 93 patients with different forms of CMPD, by estimating histological parameters. True polycythemia (TP) was present in 28 patients; 20 patients had essential thrombocythemia (ET), 36 had subleukemic myelosis, out them 6 were in a prefibrotic stage, and 9 with diagnosed post-TP (ET) myelofibrosis.

[Density-specific distribution of erythrocytes in different types of anemia].

Aim: To study density-specific distribution of erythrocytes (DSDE) in different types of anemia.

Material And Methods: DSDE was determined in anemic patients by fractionation of the whole blood in hematocritic capillaries in the presence of mixtures of dimethyl- and dibutylphthalates with known density.

Results: Parameters are proposed which characterize DSDE changes typical for each type of anemia: mean erythrocyte density (MED)--mean density of total erythrocytic population; DSDE width (W)--a characteristic of erythrocytic population heterogeneity; light fraction of erythrocytes (LEF)--% of the cells with density less than 1.

[Hyperhomocysteinemia--one of the factors underlying thrombotic complications in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases].

Aim: To assess incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHC) in patients with chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPD) and to analyse possible correlation between an elevated concentration of plasma homocystein (HC) and thrombotic complications.

Material And Methods: The trial enrolled 61 patients: 39 CMPD patients with thrombotic complications and free of them, 22 nonhematological patients with thrombosis. The control group consisted of 40 healthy donors.

[Chronic myeloproliferative diseases and pregnancy].

Aim: To analyse the course of pregnancy in chronic myeloproliferative diseases (CMPD) with hyperthrombocytosis, primarily, essential thrombocytemia.

Material And Methods: The analysis of thrombogenic risk factors covered literature data and 8 cases observed by the authors.

Results: Six pregnant women received long-term treatment with preparations of interferon-alpha in a dose 9-20 million IU a week (both before and during pregnancy).

[Clonal chromosomal aberrations in patients with aplastic anemia at the disease onset and transformation].

Aim: To estimate detectability and characteristic features of chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow cells of patients with aplastic anemia (AA).

Material And Methods: The trial covered 155 AA patients admitted to the Hematological Research Center in 1987-2002. Cytogenetic study by G-differential staining was performed in 58 patients with AA and 5 patients with AA transforming into myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute leukemia (AL).

Defective adhesion and homing of hemopoietic precursors from the bone marrow of patients with myelodysplasia to stromal cells of normal bone marrow cultures.

Hemopoietic precursors from the bone marrow of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome were characterized by lower adhesion to normal stromal sublayer compared to bone marrow precursors from healthy donors, while adhesion to fibroblast monolayer and fibronectin was similar in bone marrow cells from patients and donors. In vitro experiments showed that the percentage of adherent hemopoietic precursors from the bone marrow of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome in normal stromal sublayer and fibroblasts was lower compared to healthy donors. The decrease in adhesive activity of hemopoietic precursors from the bone marrow of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome probably contributes to impairment of cell-cell interactions in the bone marrow of these patients.

[Chromosomal aberrations in myelodysplastic syndrome].

Aim: To analyse incidence rate of chromosomal aberrations in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), specification of clinicomorphological features of some cytogenetic variants.

Material And Methods: Chromosomal analysis by the method of G-differential staining of chromosomes was made in 209 patients with different variants of MDS. RESULTS; Clonal chromosomal aberrations occured in 60.

Detection of stages of autoimmune hemolytic anemia by evaluating erythrocyte deformability and density.

Study of erythrocyte density and deformability in patients with hemolytic anemia, including long-term monitoring of 5 patients, helped us to characterize the pathological processes leading to changes in the erythrocyte population at different terms of the disease and to detect its main stages (agglutination, pathological dehydration, combination of pathological dehydration and microvesiculation, hemolytic crisis, and remission).

[T-cell tumors with aplastic syndromes].

Aim: To detect and verify the existence of a specific form of T-cell tumor accompanied by isolated lesions of bone marrow and aplastic syndromes.

Material And Methods: Four patients with aplastic syndromes were examined using clinical, histological, cytological, cytogenetic, and immunophenotypic methods.

Results: Four cases of T-cell tumors of bone marrow with clinical and morphological manifestations of aplastic syndrome and scanty proliferation activity in bone marrow alone were diagnosed.