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Selected AbstractsImpact of parturition on iron status in nonanaemic iron deficiencyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 10 2003A. Krafft Abstract Background, Iron-deficient nonanaemic parturients risk underdiagnosis as a result of the reliance on postpartum ferritin and haemoglobin as markers of iron status. Ferritin is an acute-phase protein whose levels increase during the inflammatory response, as occurs after delivery. Our aims were to evaluate the impact of parturition on iron status, erythropoiesis and the inflammatory response, and identify the optimal parameters and timing for diagnosing iron deficiency in the presence of postpartum inflammation. Materials and methods, Conventional parameters of iron status, erythropoiesis and the inflammatory response (serum ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, C-reactive protein) were compared with more recent parameters [soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR), hypochromic red cells, reticulocyte indices] within 48 h either side of delivery in 64 iron-deficient nonanaemic women (defined by a prepartum serum ferritin , 15 µg L,1, and a pre- and postpartum haemoglobin of , 11·0 g dL,1 and , 10·0 g dL,1, respectively). Results, Mean sTfR decreased pre to postpartum from 7·3 to 5·8 µg mL,1 (P < 0·01), while mean serum ferritin increased from 9·7 to 16·9 µg L,1 (P < 0·01). Serum ferritin did not correlate with haemoglobin pre or postpartum (r = 0·04, P = 0·7; r = 0·2, P = 0·09), but a correlation persisted postpartum between hypochromic red blood cells and haemoglobin (r = ,0·26; P < 0·05). The percentage of hypochromic red cells remained virtually unchanged pre- and postpartum (4·0% vs. 3·8%; NS). Postpartum mean reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr) was 27·1 ± 1·6 pg. Conclusion, Iron status should be tested prepartum, in the absence of an inflammatory response, rather than in the early postpartum. A valuable additional parameter, where available, might be the hypochromic red cell percentage, which is virtually uninfluenced by the inflammatory response. Furthermore, hypochromic red cell percentage, CHr and sTfR can be helpful to differentiate between functional iron deficiency and depleted iron stores. [source] Darbepoetin alfa 300 or 500 ,g once every 3 weeks with or without intravenous Iron in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Michael Auerbach This study evaluated efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa administered every 3 weeks (Q3W) at fixed doses of 300 or 500 ,g with or without intravenous (IV) iron in treating anemia in patients receiving multicycle chemotherapy. This Phase 2, double-blind, 2 × 2 factorial study randomized patients to one of four treatment arms; darbepoetin alfa 300 ,g (n = 62), darbepoetin alfa 300 ,g plus IV iron (n = 60), darbepoetin alfa 500 ,g (n = 60), or darbepoetin alfa 500 ,g plus IV iron (n = 60). Patients had nonmyeloid malignancies, hemoglobin levels ,10 g dL,1, and no iron deficiency. Primary endpoint was achievement of target hemoglobin (,11 g dL,1). Secondary endpoints included incidence of transfusions and change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Fatigue (FACT-F) score from baseline to end of study. Safety was evaluated by incidence of adverse events. No evidence of a statistically significant interaction between darbepoetin alfa dose received and IV iron usage was observed, therefore, results are provided separately comparing darbepoetin alfa doses and comparing IV iron usage groups. Similar proportions of patients receiving darbepoetin alfa 300 or 500 ,g achieved target hemoglobin (75 and 78%, respectively); Kaplan,Meier median time to target hemoglobin was 10 and 8 weeks, respectively. More patients receiving IV iron (82%) than not receiving IV iron (72%) achieved hemoglobin target. Adverse events profiles were similar for darbepoetin alfa treatment groups. Transient anaphylactoid reactions were reported in two patients receiving IV iron. Darbepoetin alfa at 300 ,g Q3W and 500 ,g Q3W showed similar benefit, while added IV iron improved treatment response in these patients. Am. J. Hematol., 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Haematology and leucocyte morphology of wild caught Thunnus maccoyiiJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2005K. M. Rough The haematology of wild southern bluefin tuna Thunnus maccoyii was described using blood samples collected from fish immediately after they were caught. Cytology and cytochemistry revealed that the blood in peripheral circulation is comprised of erythrocytes, reticulocytes, ghost cells, lymphocytes, thrombocytes, eosinophilic granulocytes, neutrophilic granulocytes and monocytes. Reference ranges established were 41·09,55·50% for haematocrit, 0·62,3·00% for leucocrit, 13·25,17·92 g dl,1 for haemoglobin and 2·1,2·9 million erythrocytes ,l,1 for erythrocyte count. Differential cell counts showed 94·58 ± 2·15% erythrocytes, 3·99 ± 1·44% leucocytes and 1·43 ± 1·03% thrombocytes (mean ± s.d.). Normal ranges for differential leucocyte counts were 0·00,5·45% for neutrophils, 0·69,12·06% for eosinophils, 0·00,5·03% for monocytes, 46·97,74·32% for lymphocytes and 14·47,43·92% for thrombocytes. Erythrocyte indices, leucocyte types and cytochemistry were comparable to other species of scombrids. Packed cell volume was sensitive to the physiological state of the fish and to sample handling technique. [source] Autologous or homologous transfusion in aortic surgery: randomized trialBRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 4 2001F. Torella Background: Aortic surgery often requires blood transfusion, which may cause complications and postoperative infection. Autologous transfusion was evaluated in a multicentre clinical trial. Methods: Some 145 patients undergoing elective aortic surgery in eight hospitals were randomized to either ,homologous' or ,autologous' transfusion, a combination of acute normovolaemic haemodilution (ANH) and intraoperative cell salvage. Homologous blood was administered when the haemoglobin concentration fell below 8 g dl,1. Results: Median (interquartile range (i.q.r.)) blood loss was 668 (400,862) ml or 17 (10,24) per cent of blood volume in aortobifemoral bypass, and 1120 (765,1700) ml or 24 (17,36) per cent in aneurysm repair (P < 0·001). Autologous transfusion reduced homologous blood requirements from a median (i.q.r.) of 2 (0,4) units to 0 (0,2) units (P = 0·008). Independent predictors of blood transfusion were homologous transfusion strategy (odds ratio (OR) 2·3 (95 per cent confidence interval 1·1,5·0); P = 0·03), low preoperative haemoglobin concentration (OR 3·7 (1·7,8·2); P < 0·001), prolonged surgery (OR 2·1 (1·0,4·8); P = 0·05) and blood loss (OR 3·0 (1·4,6·5); P = 0·007). Patients with a preoperative haemoglobin concentration greater than 13·5 g dl,1 and who lost less than 20 per cent of their blood volume rarely required transfusion. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of morbidity, mortality and postoperative hospital stay. Conclusion: Autologous transfusion reduced the need for homologous blood in aortic surgery, but was useful only in patients with low haemoglobin levels or when blood loss exceeded 20 per cent of the blood volume. ANH alone is indicated for patients undergoing aortobifemoral bypass and in those with a higher haemoglobin level and blood volume. © 2001 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd [source] Late-onset neutropenia in very low birthweight infantsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2002G Chirico Aim: To evaluate the incidence and duration of late-onset neutropenia (defined as an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) <1500 mm,3 at a postnatal age of >3 wk) in a population of infants with birthweight <2000 g, and to determine whether copper deficiency, a possible cause of both anemia and neutropenia, may be associated with this complication. Methods: Complete blood cell count and differential were assessed in 247 low (LBW) and very low birthweight (VLBW) infants who were discharged after 3 wk of life. In neutropenic infants plasma copper and ceruloplasmin levels were also measured. Results: Late-onset neutropenia was detected in 11 out of 147 VLBW infants (7.5%) and in 7 out of 127 LBW infants (5.5%). A neutrophil count of <1000 mm,3 was observed in 14 infants (5.1%). A significantly lower gestational age was found in neutropenic infants compared with non-neutropenic infants. In neutropenic infants ANCs were significantly correlated with hemoglobin and hematocrit. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between neutrophil and reticulocyte counts. Plasma copper concentration was significantly correlated with birthweight. Oral copper sulfate was administered to infants with plasma copper concentration <50 ,g dl,1, and did not seem to affect ANC, hemoglobin, hematocrit or reticulocyte counts. Conclusion: Late-onset neutropenia appears to be a benign condition that is not associated with any particular complication and does not require specific treatment. Reference ranges after the early neonatal period and during the first few months of life in LBW and VLBW infants should probably be set at lower values. [source] Randomized double-blind controlled trial on the effects on iron status in the first year between a no added iron and standard infant formula received for three months,ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2 2002DP Tuthill Recent research has not only questioned the necessity of iron supplementation in human milk substitutes prior to weaning, but also suggested some potential adverse effects. This study investigated the hypothesis that infant formula need not contain added iron in the first 3 mo. Healthy term infants were recruited into a double-blind controlled trial and randomized to receive either a new no added iron formula (New; <0.1 mg Fe 100 ml,1) or a standard formula (Standard; 0.5 mg Fe 100 ml,1) for the first 3 mo of life. A breastfed reference group was also studied. Iron status was assessed at 3 and 12 mo from heel-prick capillary blood samples evaluated by full blood-count analysis, including reticulocytes and serum ferritin. In total, 149 infants were entered (51 New, 49 Standard, 49 breastfed) with no differences between the groups in gender distribution, birthweight, gestation or numbers completing the study. There were no significant differences between the principal outcome measures: mean values for haemoglobin, mean cell volume and ferritin, between the two formula-fed groups, and the proportion with a haemoglobin level <11 g dl,1 or ferritin <10 ,g l,1 did not differ. Conclusion: The use of a "no added iron" infant formula in place of an iron-fortified formula during the first 3 mo of life did not clinically affect iron status at 3 and 12 mo of age. The universal supplementation of formulae with iron during this initial period needs further consideration. [source] |