Risk Stratification for Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head After Internal Fixation of Femoral Neck Fractures by Post-Operative Bone SPECT/CT / 대한핵의학회잡지

PURPOSE: Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is a major complication after internal fixation of a femoral neck fracture and determines the functional prognosis. We investigated postoperative bone single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) for assessing the risk of femoral head AVN.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 53 consecutive patients who underwent bone SPECT/CT within 2 weeks of internal fixation of a femoral neck fracture and follow-up serial hip radiographs over at least 12 months.RESULTS: Nine patients developed femoral head AVN. In 15 patients who showed normal uptake on immediate postoperative SPECT/CT, no AVN occurred, whereas 9 of 38 patients who showed cold defects of the femoral head later developed AVN. The negative predictive value of immediate postoperative SPECT/CT for AVN was 100 %, whereas the positive predictive value was 24 %. Among 38 patients with cold defects, 1 developed AVN 3 months postoperatively. A follow-up bone SPECT/CT was performed in the other 37 patients at 2??0 months postoperatively. The follow-up bone SPECT/CT revealed completely normalized femoral head uptake in 27, partially normalized uptake in 8, and persistent cold defects in 2 patients. AVN developed in 3.7 % (1/27), 62.5 % (5/8), and 100 % (2/2) of each group, respectively.CONCLUSION: According to the time point of imaging, radiotracer uptake patterns of the femoral head on postoperative bone SPECT/CT indicate the risk of AVN after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures differently. Postoperative bone SPECT/CT may help orthopedic surgeons determine the appropriate follow-up of these patients.

An Experience of the Use of Anti-HBc and Anti-HBs for Blood Donor Screening Tests at a Tertiary Hospital Blood Center in Korea / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to report the first experience of using tests of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) for the selection of blood donors in a tertiary hospital blood center in Korea. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2007, the data of all eligible donors according to the Korean Blood Regulation Law were analyzed. Anti-HBc testing was performed in all donors, but anti-HBs was tested only in anti-HBc seropositive donors. Anti-HBs negative but anti-HBc positive donors were regarded as ineligible for blood donation. Cost for donor testing was calculated based on Korean health insurance payment schedule from 2005 to 2007. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of anti-HBc in blood donors was 23.2% (162/699) and increased with increasing age. The proportion of ineligible donors for blood collection was 2.7% (19/699) of total donors and 11.6% (19/162) of anti-HBc seropositive donors. The cost of testing for anti-HBc and anti-HBs was estimated to be about 40% of the total screening cost. CONCLUSIONS: Although additional donor screening tests for anti-HBc and anti-HBs requires increased cost and relatively small number of donors are additionally excluded by these tests, they are considered to be helpful for the safety of blood products, because our blood center has characteristics with small number of donors and relatively high percentage of donors in the age group of thirties and older.

A Case of Anti-Yka Antibody as an High-Titer, Low-Avidity Antibody: The First Case in Korea / 대한수혈학회지

Authors found a case of anti-Yka antibody in a 66-year-old female patient with acute peritonitis due to colon cancer perforation. Although anti-Yka antibody has no clinical significance, its high-titer, low-avidity (HTLA) characteristics with weak and variable reactivity to Yk(a+) RBC in the indirect antiglobulin test can cause confusion and difficulties in identifying coexisting clinically significant antibodies. Titration studies could be used to determine such reactions due to HTLA antibodies. Since anti-Yka antibody has not been shown to cause significant destruction of transfused Yk(a+) RBC, Yk(a+) units can be safely transfused to patients with anti-Yka antibody unless clinically significant antibodies coexist in their sera. This is the first case report of anti-Yka antibody as an high-titer, low-avidity antibody in Korea.