Effect of uremia on white blood cell count in patients with renal failure

Background and Aims: it is believed that uremia causes destruction of white blood cells [WBC] leading to leukopenia. This study attempted to assess the exact effect of uremia on WBC count

Materials and Methods: this case-control study was conducted on 120 uremic patients and 100 non-uremic control subjects. All cases were examined for determination of urea and creatinine in their serum; complete blood counts were also determined

Results and Conclusion: in healthy male individuals, the mean values of serum urea and creatinine were 14.5+/-1.9 and 0.9+/-0.2 mg/dL, respectively. In females the serum urea concentration was the same as males, but mean serum creatinine was 0.66+/-3.2 mg/dL. In the patients group, the mean concentration of serum urea for both sexes was 83+/-2.4 mg/dL. The mean values of creatinine in male and female patients were 2.4+/-1.3 mg/dL and 2.1+/-1.7 mg/dL, respectively. The mean total leukocyte counts in case and control groups were 6.08+/- 2.24 and 6.17+/- 2.43 ×10[9]/L, respectively [p=0.71]. Our results indicate that uremia cannot change leukocyte count

Prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance test in patients with Thalassemia major

Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorder worldwide that due to high prevalence and chronic nature of diabetes imposes a heavy cost on health care system. Therefore this study aimed to assess prevalence of diabetes among patients with beta thalassemia major. This descriptive study was conducted on 364 patients with beta thalassemia major that received at least 100 blood bags. For evaluation of diabetes among these patients, fasting blood sugar and glucose tolerance test were done. Finally relationship between age, gender, age at beginning of transfusion and chelating therapy with occurrence of diabetes were analysis by SPSS-17 software. Among 364 patients with mean age of 17.7 +/- 4.9 years prevalence of diabetes was 15.1% [58 patients] that 37.9% [22 patients] were women and 62.1 [38 patients] were men. Due to high prevalence of diabetes in patients with beta thalassemia major, regular check up for endocrine disorders should be consider in these patients

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in two patients with beta-Thalassemia major

Occurrence of leukemia in thalassemia major is a rare presentation. Here we report two cases of thalassemic patients, developing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The genetic analysis revealed that, female and male patients were homozygous for IVSI-6 and IVSI-5, respectively. Two years ago the female patient presented by a high leukocyte count [154,000 micro L] and male one also presented by 80,000 WBC/micro L count 1 year ago. Microscopic examination of both patients revealed lymphoblasts that morphologically accommodate with ALL-L1 that were confirmed by photocytometry