Serum thrombopoietin levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

To observe thrombopoietin [TPO] levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. The study was performed between November 2010 and March 2011 at the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Fatih University, Ankara, Turkey. A total of 60 consecutive patients with ultrasound proven NAFLD [study group], and 28 healthy volunteers [control study] were included in the study. The patient group was divided into 3 subgroups according to the ultrasonographic images as follows: minimal, intermediate, and marked hepatosteatosis. The TPO levels of the patient subgroups were compared with the healthy controls. All the data were collected prospectively, and recorded in FUHIS data collecting system, which is produced by our data-knowledge team. Quantitative measurements of thrombopoietin level were carried out by using the Human Thrombopoietin Quantikine ELISA Kit [R and D Systems, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA]. Thrombopoietin levels were significantly increased in the patient subgroups compared with the controls. The TPO levels were also higher in the patient subgroup of grade 1-nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [grade 1- NAFLD] compared with the control group. The TPO increased in patients with NAFLD possibly as an acute phase reactant to decreased inflammation. In clinical practice, physicians should be alerted to increased TPO levels in patients

Antiphospholipid syndrome with hemophilia B: a case report represented by recurrent thrombosis/ bleeding attacks

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a disease presenting with arterial/ venous thrombosis and obstetrical complications. Pulmonary embolism is an important pulmonary complication of antiphospholipid syndrome, whereas, intra-alveolar hemorrhage is a rarely encountered manifestation. Hemophilia B is caused by factor IX deficiency that results in prolonged oozing after injuries and/or surgery, and delayed or recurrent bleeding prior to complete wound healing. Antithrombotic therapy may be used for recurrent hemostatic attacks in APS; but if there is a hemostatic defect, it may lead to serious bleeding complications. Here, we present a case of antiphospholipid syndrome accompanied by heterozygote methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation [MTHFR] mutation and hemophilia B