Factor VII polymorphisms associated with plasma factor VII coagulant activity levels in healthy Tunisians

Factor VII gene polymorphisms may contribute to elevations in factor VII coagulant [FVIIc] levels that have been associated with cardiovascular risk. We therefore studied the association of two polymorphisms--R353Q polymorphism at codon 353 involving the catalytic region and the 10 base pair [bp] insertion polymorphism involving the promoter region--with FVllc levels in 176 healthy Tunisians. The variant Q allele had a frequency of 0.213 [SD 0.021] whereas the frequency of the 10 bp insert allele was 0.250 [SD 0.023]. Subjects with R/R genotype had significantly higher FVllc levels than Q353 heterozygote and homozygote subjects [96.36 versus 59.52]. FVIIc levels with the 10 bp insertion polymorphism were not significantly different. The Q353 allele of the factor VII gene polymorphism is associated with decreased factor VII and could be protective against cardiovascular disease

Antiphospholipid syndrome and retinal vein occlusion in adults

Antiphospholipid antibodies may play and important role in the pathogenesis of retinal vascular occlusions; investigated the prevalence among 33 patients with retinal vein and artery occlusions and 80 controls. Prevalence was 33% and 5% respectively. Ophthalmic examination and fluorescein angiography showed that occlusions were due to ischaemic events. The 11 patients were diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome: 9 patients were treated successfully with laser photocoagulation and anticoagulant and anti-aggregant therapy. Two patients with antiphospholipid antibodies associated with resistance to activated protein C had unfavourable outcomes. Our results suggest a correlation between antiphospholipid syndrome and retinal vein occlusions; we recommend a systematic search for antiphospholipid antibodies in occlusions of unexplained origin and laser photocoagulation treatment and long-term oral anticoagulant and anti-aggregant therapy

[Cytological features of acute leukaemia in the central region of Tunisia]

In Tunisia, because of an absence of population registry, data on acute leukaemia are scarce. We studied the epidemiological and cytological characteristic of 193 patients with acute leukaemia. Haemograms were carried out and slides for peripheral blood and bone marrow were prepared for each patient. The age range of the patients was 10 months to 83 years with a predominance of males [ratio: 1.27]. As regards type of leukaemia, 40.4% had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, 51.8% had acute myeloblastic leukemia and 7.8% were unclassified. Diagnosis was made at less than 10 years in 31.6% of cases and 72% of these were the lymphoblastic type. Anaemia [Hb < 11 g/dL was found in 85% of cases, thrombocytopenia [platelets < 100 000/mm3] in 80.5% and hyperleukocytosis [WBC > 100 000/mm3] in 14.5% of cases with blasts in peripheral blood in 92% of cases