study of coagulopathy in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

This study compared a group of items concerning the activation of the coagulation system and fibrinolytic system in various hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy, as well as AT III. One hundred and twenty pregnant women were studied contained in 4 equal groups. These were normal controls, PIH, PAH and PAH with super imposed PIH. Each patient had fibrinogen levels, platelet counts, plasminogen levels, Fibrinogen/Fibrin degradation products and Antithrombin III estimated. The results showed that PIH was characterised by significant affection of all 5 parameters. PAH showed only mild drop in platelet counts. When PAH was complicated by PIH all 5 parameters became affected. These results identify a coagulopathy found in PIH only and not in PAH with exception of platelets that are reference in all conditions. Liver involvement in PIH should be tested for to identify its role in this coagulopathy. Reductions of AT III could also have a role in initiating this coagulopathy

Red cell distribution width [RDW] and standard deviation [SD] of red cell volume in differentiation between iron deficiency and beta thalassaemia trait

Blood samples of 59 beta thalassaemia carriers and 50 iron deficient patients were studied with a Coulter counter model S plus III to evaluate the reliability of two red cell parameters in differentiation between microcytosis of beta thalassaemia and iron deficiency. These are red cell distribution width [RDW] and standard deviation of red cell volume [SD]. RDW was directly obtained by the counter and SD was calculated from the manufacturer's formula: RDW = SD/MCV x 100 x 1.15. Both parameters proved useful for discrimination between the two disorders. However, SD was superior to RDW in this respect

experience with quality assurance programme on Coulter model S7

A program of quality assurance technique was carried on Coulter Model S7 in Ain Shams Specialized Hospital. The main procedure used in calibration was using fresh whole blood analysed by either manual techniques, or the use of well calibrated digital counter. Monitoring quality control was also carried out by using data derived from patient specimens. Quality control material was not used even in calibration and even in monitoring quality performance because of their high cost, short life span and their unreliable assayed values. Some of our techniques was applied daily, others weekly or whenever needed. These methods proved to be valid, cheap and effective. It serves as a major base for quality assurance of our Coulter S7

Evaluation of serum iron by standard colorimetric method and atomic absorption spectrophotometry

Serum iron concentration was done on 30 normal samples using both atomic absorption and standard colorimetric method. The atomic absorption method gave results significantly higher than that obtained by manual techniques [P<0.05]. Correlation study showed a significant positive correlation. For evaluation of the two techniques, both methods are highly precise although atomic absorption is more precise than the manual technique [C.V. equal 2.7 and 8.9% respectively]. Moreover both techniques were linear in a very wide range and atomic absorption was more sensitive than the manual one, the least detectable limits were 26 and 50 ug/dl respectively. As for interference study, hemolysis was found to interfere markedly with iron determination by atomic absorption while bilirubin or lipid have no significant effect on it. Finally we found that both techniques can be used perfectly for the determination of serum iron but the chemical method is still the cheapest and the more convenient one

Assessment of G6PD role in anaemia of chronic renal failure

Thirty cases of chronic renal failure were studied, 20 of them were on regular hemodialysis and the remaining ten were treated conservatively. These cases were subjected to full clinical examination, complete hemogram together with reticulocytic count and biochemical measurements as B.U.N., creatinine, calcium and phosphorus. Ten normal cases [control] were subjected to the same procedures. The results showed that non of these thirty cases exhibited decreased G6PD activity. On the contrary, there was a significant increase in G6PD activity in both groups of patients which is most likely contributed to the younger age erthrocyte population. Thus, it seems that G6PD has no role in anemia of chronic renal failure and its routine measurement has no place in the control and treatment of these patients