Impact of COVID-19 Infection among Indian Sickle Cell Disease Patients

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common hemoglobinopathy disorders and is widely prevalent in India, especially in the tribal population. SCD patients are prone to develop recurrent respiratory infections and related complications owing to the microvascular occlusion and impaired immunological response. Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence and impact of COVID‑19 in SCD patients from India. Methodology: We conducted a cross‑sectional study in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra, India, between August and October 2021. After taking informed consent, details of 300 SCD patients’ demographic data, history of COVID‑19 testing, infection, symptoms related to COVID‑19 in the past 1 year, hospitalization, complications, mortality, COVID‑19 vaccination, and side effects were recorded. Results: We found that 93 (31%) of SCD patients had influenza‑like symptoms during the COVID‑19 pandemic with symptoms of fever (81.72%), cough (35.48%), sore throat (18.27%), headache (15.05%), and breathlessness(7.52%). Atotal of 13 (4.33%) SCD among 300 SCD were tested as COVID positive. Majority of them were mild cases and the 1st dose of COVID‑19 vaccine was received by 47 (29.37%) of SCD patients and 10 (6.02%) of the patient had received second dose of vaccine. Conclusion: Low incidence of COVID‑19 and milder disease spectrum in our study cohort suggests that there is no increased risk of COVID‑19 mortality and morbidity in SCD patients compared to general population. However, the reason for low COVID vaccination in our study could be due to the fear of complications of COVID vaccine.

Molecular genotyping of clinically important blood group antigens in patients with thalassaemia

Background & objectives: In multitransfused thalassaemic patients, haemagglutination fails to phenotype the patient's blood group antigens due to the presence of donor-derived erythrocytes. DNA-based methods can overcome the limitations of haemagglutination and can be used to determine the correct antigen profile of these patients. This will facilitate the procurement of antigen-matched blood for transfusion to multitransfused patients. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the serological phenotyping of common and clinically important antigens of Rh, Duffy, Kell, Kidd and MNS blood group systems with molecular genotyping amongst multitransfused thalassaemic patients. Methods: Blood samples from 200 patients with thalassaemia and 100 'O' group regular blood donors were tested using standard serological techniques and polymerase chain reaction-based methods for common antigens/alleles (C, c, D, E, e, Fya, Fyb, Jka, Jkb, K, k, M, N, S, s). Results: Genotyping and phenotyping results were discordant in 77 per cent of thalassaemic patients for five pairs of antithetical antigens of Rh, Duffy, Kell and Kidd blood group systems. In the MNS blood group system, 59.1 per cent of patients showed discrepancy. The rate of alloimmunization among thalassaemics was 7.5 per cent. Interpretation & conclusions: Molecular genotyping enabled the determination of the actual antigen profile in multitransfused thalassaemia patients. This would help reduce the problem of alloimmunization in such patients and would also aid in the better management of transfusion therapy.

Diagnostic Approach to Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders.

Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PIDs) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders that affect different components of the immune system. There are more than 150 different disorders which have been described till date. Despite major advances in the molecular characterization of PIDs over the last 20 years, many patients remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed too late with severe consequences. Recognizing different clinical manifestations of PID is the first most important step. It should be followed by use of appropriate diagnostic tools from a vast number of investigations available. This review will focus on important presenting features of PID and laboratory approach for diagnosis of suspected cases of PID.

Clinical Profile of Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type I.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type I (LAD-I) is a rare, inherited immunodeficiency with defect in the recruitment of leukocyte to the site of inflammation. Patients with severe LAD-I have absent or markedly reduced expression of CD18 and CD11. Here we report clinical profile of 7 cases of LAD-I diagnosed at our center over a period of 3 years. Recurrent skin and mucous membrane infections were the major presenting manifestations. All children had a history of delayed cord separation.

Three way translocation in a new variant of t(8;21) acute myeloid leukemia involving Xp22.

The t(8;21)(q22;q22) is one of the most frequent chromosomal abnormality associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M2 sub type. The additional chromosomal abnormalities including structural and numerical are frequently reported with the translocation, t (8;21)(q22;q22). We report a case of AML-M2 with t(X;8;21)(p22;q22;q22) associated with loss of Y chromosome. Using a dual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with ETO and AML1 probes, we demonstrated an ETO/AML1 fusion signal on the derivative chromosome 8 and one ETO signal on derivative Chromosome Xp22. The patient did not respond to therapy and follow-up of cytogenetics revealed same chromosome abnormality. Hence, this three way translocation involving X chromosome might be associated with poor prognosis.

Transfusion transmitted diseases in haemophilics from western India.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Transfusion related human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections have been a major cause for morbidity and mortality in the haemophilic population in the west. The prevalence of these markers of transfusion transmitted viral diseases in severe and moderate haemophilia patients was studied. METHODS: The seropositivity for these viral markers was evaluated in 400 haemophilics (323 severe and 77 moderate) in a 5-year survey starting from 1995. First 188 of these patients were also tested for HCV. Serological tests for HIV, HBsAg and HCV were done by third generation ELISA; positive samples were also confirmed by Western blot. RESULTS: Fifteen of the 400 patients were found to be HIV positive (3.8%), 24/400 were HBsAg positive (6%) and 45/188 (23.9%) were positive for HCV (28 for both non-structural and core antigen, 13 for core only and 4 for non-structural antigen only). The lowest age of HIV positivity was 12 yr and that of HCV positivity was 8 yr. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The above study shows a reduction in blood product related HIV transmission in severe and moderately affected haemophilics but more stringent policy for blood product usage, universal hepatitis C screening, hepatitis B vaccination and continuous awareness programmes for medical staff, general public and patients is needed to reduce the incidence of these diseases in haemophilics.