Epidemiology of acquired aplastic Anaemia in Pakistan

Acquired aplastic anaemia is a rare disease which results in morbidity and mortality at a young age. This study was carried out to determine the clinical presentation, haematological parameters and association factors of acquired aplastic anaemia in a cohort of Pakistani patients. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at Haematology Department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore over 7 years from June 2000 to July 2007. Eighty-two patients of acquired aplastic anaemia were enrolled in the study by non-probability purposive sampling. Their diagnosis was confirmed by complete blood count, bone marrow aspirate and trephine biopsy. The cohort was classified on the basis of severity and the epidemiological, clinical and haematological parameters were analysed. Of the 82 enrolled patients of acquired aplastic anaemia, 49 [59.8%] were males and 33 [40.2%] were females. Mean age of the patients was 27.93 +/- 18.7 years with a range of 1-80 years. The male to female ratio was 1.48:1. Bone marrow cellularity was less than 25% in 31 [38.0%] cases and between 25-30% in 51 [62%] of patients. Most of the cases were clinically severe aplastic anaemia [68%]. In 62 [76%] of the cases no association factors predisposing to aplastic anaemia could be identified. Acquired Aplastic anaemia is a disease of all ages. In the second decade and the elderly predominantly severe clinical stages were seen. Males presented at a younger age while females presented at all ages with a somewhat similar incidence. No association factors of Aplastic Anaemia could be identified in majority of the patients

Clinicopathological analysis of myelodysplastic syndrome according to French-American-British classification

To evaluate the age of onset, gender ratio, clinical presentation of Myelodysplastic syndrome patients, and to classify these patients according to French-American-British classification on the basis of morphological features in blood and bone marrow. Case series. The department of Haematolgoy, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, from April 2007 to March, 2007. Fifty patients of primary Myelodysplastic syndrome [MDS] were studied. The patients were classified according to French-American-British [FAB] criteria and the epidemiological, clinical and haematological features of MDS patients were evaluated. Descriptive statistics were used to describe data. There were 31 males and 19 females. The mean age was 41 years. According to FAB classification, 39 cases of retractory anaemia, 1 case of retractory anaemia with ring sideroblast, 6 cases of retractory anaemia with excess of blasts and 4 cases of refractory anaemia with excess of blasts in transformation were identified. The commonest complaint was easy fatiguablity affecting 41 cases [82%]. Anaemia was the most common finding seen in 47 patients [94%]. Pancytopenia was seen in 33 cases [66%]. Dyserythropoeisis was present in 42 [84%], dysmyelopoeisis was seen in 21 [42%] and morphologically abnormal megakaryocytes were identified in 29 [58%] of the bone marrow aspirates. Grade-III reticulosis was seen in 9 bone marrow trephine biopsies. Abnormla localization of immature precursors [ALIP] were present in 18 cases. MDS was more frequent in young males, Refractory anaemia constituted a major chunk of the disease entity

Coagulation profile in male albino rats fed on Nigella sativa and aspirin for six weeks duration

In this study ninety male albino rats were selected and were divided into six groups on the basis of different diets given. Control group [I] was fed on synthetic diet and experimental groups [IIA, IIB, IIC, IID and IIE] were fed on I mg aspirin, 15 mg, 30 mg, 45 mg Nigella sativa per kg body weight respectively while HE was given 30 mg Nigella sativa and I mg aspirin/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected by heart puncture and coagulation parameters were done. BT was prolonged in groups taking aspirin only. APTT was reduced significantly in groups taking different concentrations of Nigella sativa when compared with the control. Percentage of clot retraction was weak significantly in groups taking aspirin only when compared with other groups of male albino rats