Hematol. Rep., Volume 12, Issue 2 (November 2020) – 5 articles

We report six cases of autoimmune acquired coagulation factor VIII deficiency, which is a rare bleeding disorder. It is an autoimmune disease, however, there are various causes. We experienced cases with malignancy, co-exist with another autoimmune disease, pregnancy, and unknown epidemiology with repeated bleeding episode. All patients were controlled the acute bleeding phase and they have been under treatment with immunosuppression. Full article

Centres for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) reports that there are limited data and information about the impact of underlying medical conditions and the risk of infection. To date, there are no studies that report on the risk of infection among patients with haematological diseases or abnormalities. This cross-sectional study reports on the baseline complete blood count in patients attending publicly funded primary care settings with a diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 infections in the state of Qatar. The study will report on the descriptive characteristics of the population, including gender, age and prior abnormalities to their blood test results. We will compare the results of those with positive and negative PCR test results, where appropriate. Nine hundred sixty-two adult patients attended publicly funded primary health care settings in the state of Qatar between 10 February and 30 April 2020 with a diagnosis of suspected COVID-19 infections had prior recorded blood investigations in the last six months and were included in this study. The population was young, mean of age is 38.8 ± 11.6. (Median: 36 [Min: 19–Max: 85]). Complete blood count of the sample had minimal missing data points. Females were more presented in our samples, Female (n = 560, 58.21%) and Male (n = 402, 41.79%). Most of our sample had a documented PCR test result, negative (n = 831, 86.38%); positive (n = 123, 12.79%) and missing (n = 8, 0.83%). Low haemoglobin values (n = 265, 27.5%) and low red blood cell count (n = 170, 17.7%) were the most prevalent complete blood count abnormality in the population. Leukopenia was less common (n = 50, 8.2%). Most of the population had normal platelet count (n = 895, 93%). Gender was the most influential factor in our sample to increase the odds of having a positive PCR t results; males were more likely to be affected (p < 0.001, Chi-square test) (OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.73–3.77). Categories for haematological abnormalities were not associated with increased risk of having a positive PCT test result. In a population attending primary healthcare settings with early presentation of symptoms of COVID-19 infection, the risk of infection among our cohort was not affected by the prior haematological values of those patients. Gender was the most influential parameter in the risk of infection in our population. Analysis of the results using gender-specific categories for different haematological parameters suggested that patients with abnormal haematological values were not at increased risk of having a positive COVID-19 infection. Full article

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck is a rare indolent neoplasm. Radiotherapy is often the preferred treatment option with excellent local control and survival. The risk of local recurrence or transformation to multiple myeloma is 10–30%. In our case-cohort, thorough, sensitive initial evaluation for disseminated clonal disease and the incorporation of surgery led to excellent results with no recurrences or systemic progression. Full article

The mechanism of the well observed hypercoagulability and high incidence of Thromboembolic Events (TE) in β-thalassemia patients has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate evaluate the endothelial dysfunction and monocyte activation among adult Egyptian β-thalassemic patients and assess their role in the hypercoagulability and development of TE. A total of 40 adults patients with bthalassemics and 20 healthy age and sex-matched controls were assessed for endothelial dysfunction using serum Von Willebrand Factor Antigen (VWFAg) and for monocytic activation using flow cytometric assessment of CD14 monocyte microparticles and CD11b activated monocytes. The VWF:Ag level was significantly higher among thalassemic patients (p < 0.001) and was positively correlated to development of TE (p < 0.05). There was no significance difference for CD14 between patients and controls (p > 0.5) and CD11b was higher in controls (p = 0.004) with no significant correlation between both and TE development (p > 0.05). VWF:Ag is increased in thalassemic patients and could be used as a risk factor for thrombosis in these patients, while no identified role of activated monocytes in thrombotic tendency in such patients. Full article