A seven year study of haemolytic anaemias at the Rangoon General Hospital

1213 patients were diagnosed to have haemolytic anaemia during a seven year period from 1976 to 1982 at the Department of Clinical Haematology, Rangoon General Hospital. Hereditary haemolytic anaemias constituted the vast majority with 96.2 per cent of all cases and acquired haemolytic anaemias were found in only 3.8 per cent. Beter thalassaemia and Beter chain variants were the commonest (66.5 per cent) followed by glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (19.7 per cent). Among the B chain varinats, haemoglobin E was the commonest abnormality being present in 31.1 per cent of all cases. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, once thought to be rare, was slightly more common (1.81 per cent) than autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (1.73 per cent) even though both conditions formed only a minority.

Disseminated histoplasmosis

The clinical presentation of Disseminated Histoplasmosis is diverse and may simulate hepatic, blood, pulmonary and renal disease. Less commonly it may resemble meningitis endocarditis, adrenal insufficiency, gastro-intestinal disorders and cutaneous disease. Definite diagnosis rests on the demonstration of the fungal bodies in tissues and by isolation of fungus by culture. Two cases of disseminated histoplasmosis confirmed by such methods are reported. These two cases are probably first 2 cases of Histoplasma infection reported from Burma.