Thalassaemia genes in Baghdad, Iraq

To estimate the prevalence of thalassaemia genes in Baghdad, a study was made of 502 randomly selected pregnant women attending a major maternity care clinic in the city. A reduced mean corpuscular volume [MCV] of < 80 fl was used as a screening test for thalassaemia in this population, followed by a battery of tests, including haemoglobin analysis and iron studies, to confirm the diagnosis. Using this approach, 22 cases were diagnosed of beta-thalassaemia trait, five cases of alpha-thalassaemia trait and one case of delta beta-thalassaemia trait. Based on these figures the estimated prevalence rates of beta-, alpha- and delta beta-thalassaemia traits in Baghdad, would be 4.4%, 1.0% and 0.2%, respectively. The study also includes a discussion of the above findings in the context of those reported in other neighbouring countries

Acute myeloid leukemia[AML] clinical features and follow-up in 54 Iraqi patients

Fifty-four patients with acute myeloid leukemia [AML] were included in this study and followed up from October, 1989 till April, 1992. Their median age was 35 years with female to male ratio of 1.4 :1. There was high incidence of M3 [24%]. Tweleve patients didn't receive chemotherapy. Other received either low-dose cytarabine [Cytosar] [18 patiens] or combination chemotherapy containing either daunorubicine [14 patients] or mitoxontrone [10 patients]. In the treated patients the rate of complete remission was 35.7%. The rate of early death was 23.8%. In all treated patients the median survival was 22 weeks. In conclusion, AML is more common in females than males. The commonest FAB - subtype is M2. There is a high incidence of Ms. The complete rate is lower than that reported m the western countries

Thrombocytosis: common causes and clinical evaluation of 153 patients in medical city hospitals

To study the causes of thrombocytosis in Medical City Hospital, 151 patients with such a problem were included, The were randomly taken from teaching laboratory records [any patient with platelets count of more than 450 x 109/L for the period from 1st of December to the 30th April 1992. All patients were followed in different wards and out-patient departments and were fully studied clinically with investigations to reach a final definite diagnosis. They were 77 females and 76 males with platelet count ranging from "457 x 109 / L with an average of 676 x 109/L. The cause according to their incidence were as follows: malignancies, acute infections, myeloproliferative disorders, post surgical, post splenectomy, iron deficiency anemia and miscellaneous cause. It was concluded from the study that causes of thrombocytosis at the Medical City Hospitals are not very much different from what was previously reported

Antilymphocyte globulin in the management of severe aplastic anaemia: the Baghdad teaching hospital experience

Eighteen Iraqi patients with severe aplastic anemia were treated with horse antilymphocytc globulin [ALG] and methyl prednisolone followed by oxymethalone tablets. Twelve patients had a satisfactory response including five with full response and were alive 20-45 months after therapy. Six patients did not respond and died 3-4 months after diagnosis. Very low platelet count seems to indicate poor response. In conclusion ALG offers hope for patients with severs aplastic anemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia profile in medical city

We present in this work a study of several aspects of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia [C.M.L] attending hematology clinic in Medical City in Iraq

incidence of monoclonal gammopathy in medical city hospital patients

The Incidence of monoclonal proteins and their Significance among hospital patients were investigated. During eight months period out of 6060 serum protein electrophoresis performed in Medieal city Laboratory, monoclonal proteins were demonstrated in the sera of 45 patients only, corresponding to a frequancy of 0.74 per cent.Those 45 patients were studied regarding to clinical, radiological and laboratory investigatlons in an attempt to reach a final diagnosis. Of 45 patients 25 [55.5%] had plasma cell dyscrasia, 12 [26.7%] had malignant lymphoma, leukemias or carcinomas, 8 [17.8%] had inflammatory conditions and other miscellaneous associated conditions. The patients with multiple myeloma were more than half of the cases, and with immunoglobulin class of IgG and IgA only. In general, the incidence of monoclonal proteins in our patients population is lower than previously reported

Liver disease and hepatitis B markers in Iraqi hemophilic patients

Forty patients, 38 males and two females suffering from hemophilia A 72.5%, hemophilia B 15% and Von Willebrand's disease 12.5% were studied regarding evidence of liver disease and exposure to hepatitis B virus. There was a history of an attack of hepatitis in 32.5% of them, splenomegaly in 12.5% and hepatomegaly in 10%. None of them showed stigmata of chronic liver disease. Liver function studies showed an abnormality of one or another test in 72.5%. Hepatitis B markers were positive in 87.5% of them. There was no death attributed to Liver disease in one year period. We conclude from this study that our hemophiliacs are exposed to Liver disease but it sound that serious Liver disease is not common in them

Bacteremia in patients with acute leukemia

47 febrile episodes in 64 patients with leukemia were studied to determine the incidence of bacteremia and the type of organisms that are responsible and their sensitivity to antibiotics, 15 positive blood culture were obtained. Gram negative bacilli were the most commonly isolated organisms followed by gram positive cocci. All the organisms with the exception of two were sensitive to gentamicin or cephalothin or both, the remaining two were resistant to antibiotics that were routinely tested which did not include new generation of antibiotics

Use of antibiotic at medical city teaching hospital

55.5% of 1500 randomly selected patients from those admitted to the Medical City Teaching Hospital received one or more antibiotic. The use of antibiotic was more in the surgical service compared to the medical and Ob-Gyn. Services. Although ampicillin was the antimicrobial most widely used but drugs with possible serious side effect such as chloramphenicol are not uncommonly used [10% of patients on antibiotic in the surgical service]. It was judged that the use of antibiotic was justified and both the type dose were proper in only 23.2%. There were differences in the justification of the antibiotic use in the Ob-Gyn, Medical and surgical services [10.6%,42.2% and 18.2% respectively]. Cultures were taken in only 34.8% of patients receiving antibiotic. Some restriction should be implanted to reduce the use of antibiotic and to eliminate or minimize the unjustified use of this group of drugs