Anticardiolipn antibodies in severe pre-eclampsia

To determine the association between anticardiolipin [ACL] antibodies and severe pre-eclampsia One hundred and ten pregnant women were included: 10 normal as a control group and 100 cases of severe pre-eclampsia subdivided to group ha ACL+ve and group IIb ACL-ve. Immunological tests included ANA, LE cells, ACL, LAC and complement 3. Coagulation studies included APTT, platelet adhesion, euglobulin lysis time, prostacyclin and protein C. 28% of pre-eclamptic cases were ACL+ve and 72% were ACL-ve. Significant increase in ACL [IgG and IgM] was found in group ha as compared to controls and group IIb. LE cells were demonstrated in only 2.8% in group Ha. Significant decrease in euglobulin lysis time and protein C was detected in pre-eclamptic patients in both ACL+ve and ACL-ve groups. Thrombocytopenia was detected in 57.1% of ACL+ve cases and 59.7% in ACL-ve cases with non-significant difference. ACL antibody is a sensitive antibody for detecting APS. LAC is considered as a screening test for suspicious APS. Hypercoagulability state is ascribed to protein C and/or prostacyclin deficiency

Some hematological changes in rheumatoid arthritis

The study demonstrated a normochromic normocytic and hypochromic normocytic anaemias in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moderate reduction of haemoglobin concentration associated with raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate was observed. While bone marrow examination revealed normal range of the total count and normal cellularity, also a drop in the red cell count was demonstrated. Both serum iron and total iron binding capacity were reduced with increasing iron stores in the bone marrow which excluded iron deficiency anaemia