Sideroblastic Anaemia-A Hitherto Unrceognized cause of unexplained Anaemia

Objective: To assess the clinicopathological heterogeneity of sideroblastic anemia disorders characterized by the presence of ring sideroblasts in the bone marrow

Study Design: Descriptive study

Place and Duration of Study: Study was conducted at department of Pathology, Combined Military Hospital Kharian, from Apr 2014 to Oct 2016

Material and Methods: A total of ten patients diagnosed as having sideroblastic anemia [SA] on cytomorphological basis were included in the study. After clinical examination of the patients, blood samples were analyzed on Sysmex KX21 Haematology analyzer. Blood and bone marrow aspiration slides were stained with leishman's stain to study red cell morphology and aspects of haematopoiesis. Assessment of iron stores was done using Perl's staining technique. Data was collected and analyzed using SPSS 16.0 version

Results: Age range of the SA patients varied from 14-65 years and male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Clinical features included weakness, malaise, easy fatigability, fever, bleeding complications, pallor, splenomegaly and syndrome specific features in 2 patients. MCV ranged from 66 fl to 94 fl. Dimorphic red cell morphology which is considered an important feature of SA was not observed in any patient. Other cytopenias were also noticed. Dysplasia was observed in 4 patients. One patient was confirmed as having secondary SA due to lead poisoning

Conclusion: Clinicopathological features of SA are variable and it is inappropriate to associate SA with any specific age group, gender, red cell indices or morphology. Prompt recognition of SA with its accurate categorization and specific treatment can avoid undue suffering of the patients as well as their relatives

Still birth rate in district head quarter hospital Abbottabad

This retrospective study was done at District Headquarter Hospital, Abbottabad. The prevalence of still birth was studied among 853 infants born in maternity ward of DHQ Hospital, Abbottabad during two and a half years. The still birth rate observed was 112.5/1000. The rate was higher among multigravida and in females of more than 35 years age. The prominent aetiological factors were multiparity prolonged and obstructed labour and antepartum haemorrhage

Incidence of urinary tract infection during pregnancy

Incidence of Urinary tract infection was determined in 164 pregnant women presented at DHQ Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad. The cases with significant bacteriuria [> 10 5 organisms/ml of Urine] were 9.7% of total. 76% of the patients were less than 30 years of age with mean of 28 years. In the symptomatic group the frequency of UTI was 12.5% while in the asymptomatic group it was about 4.0%. Pyuria was found in 13.4% of the total cases. Albumin and Glucose in Urine were found to be 6% and 3% respectively. The organisms isolated were E. Coli [56.3%] Staphylococcus [25.0%] Klebsiella Spp [12.5%] and proteus Spp [6.2%]. Most of them were sensitive to Minocin, gentamicin, claforan, whereas the sensitivity to Amoxil, Dalacin, Fosfomycin and Doxycyclin was variable