ABSTRACT
To determine the influence of therapeutic phlebotomy on the reduction of vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) and of hospital admissions of patients with sickle cell disease and to describe how they experience this practice. Descriptive cross-sectional study of 27 patients with sickle cell disease who underwent phlebotomies. We estimated the number of VOCs, hemoglobin levels, and patient response. Among 27 sickle cell patients (24 SC and 3 SS) who underwent phlebotomies, there were 22 men (81.5 %) men and 5 (18.5 %) women, with an average age of 34.6 ±10.9 years (range: 21-56 years). Before the phlebotomies, 23 (85.2 %) had showed signs of hyperviscosity, they had a mean of 5.3 ± 1.02 (range: 3-8) VOCs annually, and their mean hemoglobin level was 14.3 ±1.5g/dl (range: 10.4 g/dl-16.8 g/dl). The mean number of phlebotomies was 4.9±4.11 (range: 1-13). After this treatment, 21 (91.3 %) reported that their signs of hyperviscosity disappeared, and the mean number of VOCs annually decreased to 0.9 ±0.07 (range: 0-2). The mean change in hemoglobin was 1.9 ±0.8 g/dl (range: 0.9-3.2 g/dl). Nine patients (6SC and 3SS), 7 under anti-anemic treatment, initially refused phlebotomy, mainly because they did not understand how it could be useful to reduce the amount of blood in patients with a potentially anemic disease. Phlebotomy has resulted in a decrease in the frequency of VOCs and hospitalizations. It is essential to further popularize it and increase patients' aware of its value in combatting sickle cell disease and thus improve their willingness for and adherence to this treatment.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/therapy , Phlebotomy , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Hemoglobins/analysis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Togo , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIMS: To study the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects of Biermer's disease in the hematology service of campus teaching hospital of Lomé. METHOD: This retrospective study was conducted in the laboratory service of the University Hospital campus in which there is a unit of clinical hematology. This study took place over a period of twelve years and has identified 13 patients (5 men, 8women). Patients were selected on the basis of clinical, paraclinical (blood cells count, bone marrow, dosage of vitamin B12 and the intrinsic factor antibody) and the therapeutic test. RESULTS: The mean age was 53 years ranging from 32 to 68 years. There was a female predominance with a sex ratio of 0.6. Clinically, there was conjonctival palor and asthenia (92% each) followed by paresthesia (62%). The blood cell count essentially showed profound anemia (7g/dl on average), macrocytic (84,6%), normocytic (15,3%), bicytopenia (61,5%) and pancytopenia (23% ). In all patients, the bone marrow study showed megaloblasts, the dosage of the vitamin showed a collapse of vitamin B12 (76,9%), and intrinsic factor antibody was positive (92,3%). The fibroscopy showed atrophic gastritis (76,9%), intestinal metaplasia (69,2%) and an absence of Helicobacter pylori. The evolution was favorable with parenteral B12 vitamin therapy for all patients. CONCLUSION: We recommend looking for iron deficiency during the follow-up and gastric biopsy even if no macroscopic lesions are found.
OBJECTIF: Etudier les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, paracliniques et thérapeutiques de la maladie de Biermer dans le service d'hématologie du CHU Campus de Lomé. MÉTHODE: Il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective réalisée dans l'unité d'hématologie clinique du service des laboratoires du CHU Campus de Lomé. Cette étude s'est déroulée sur une période de douze ans et a permis de recenser 13 patients (5 hommes et 8 femmes). Les patients ont été retenus sur la base des arguments cliniques, paracliniques (hémogramme, myélogramme, dosage de la vitamine B12 et la recherche des anticorps anti-facteur intrinsèque) et le test thérapeutique. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen des patients était de 53 ans avec des extrêmes de 32 et 68 ans. Il y avait une prédominance féminine avec une sex-ratio de 0,6. Le tableau clinique était dominé par la pâleur conjonctivale et l'asthénie (92%) suivies de la paresthésie (62%). L'hémogramme avait montré essentiellement une anémie profonde (7g/dl en moyenne) macrocytaire (84,6%), normocytaire (15,3%), une bicytopénie (61,5%) et une pancytopénie (23%). Chez tous les patients, le myélogramme montrait des mégaloblastes, le dosage vitaminique montrait un effondrement de la vitaminémie B12 (76,9%), et l'anticorps anti-facteur intrinsèque était positif (92,3%). La fibroscopie digestive haute associée à l'examen anatomo-pathologique avait montré une gastrite atrophique (76,9%), une métaplasie intestinale (69,2%) et une absence d'hélicobacter pylori. L'évolution a été favorable sous vitaminothérapie B12 par voie parentérale chez l'ensemble des patients. CONCLUSION: Nous recommandons la recherche d'une carence martiale au cours de l'évolution et la biopsie gastrique même en l'absence de lésion macroscopique à la fibroscopie digestive haute.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a clonal malignant myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the expansion of hematopoietic cells carrying the Philadelphia chromosome (t 9.22). Our main objective was to assess the efficacy of imatinib in CML patients, measured by their survival. METHODS: Over a six-year period (June 2003 through May 2009), 25 patients were seen regularly for CML at the Lomé Campus teaching hospital. Patients received imatinib after diagnosis and underwent regular laboratory monitoring (quantification of BCR-ABL ratio by RT-PCR). Patients' survival and treatment response were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients' mean age at diagnosis was 40 years (range: 9 to 72 years). Men predominated (17 compared with 7 women). Splenomegaly was found in 80% of cases. The mean leukocyte level was 188.71 g/L (24.4-350). Six patients (24%) had thrombocytosis with a mean platelet count of 491.15 g/L (108-2000). Six patients (24%) died after developing accelerated-phase CML or blast crisis. Estimated overall survival of patients at 6 years was 60%. Molecular biology monitoring detected a secondary G250E mutation with resistance to imatinib in one patient. Standard hematological side effects led to reduction in imatinib doses. The principal nonhematological side effects were weight gain and transient digestible disorders. CONCLUSIONS: At six years after diagnosis, imatinib was effective in treating patients with CML, even in sub-Saharan Africa. Mutation-induced resistance required regular molecular biological monitoring to determine the need to switch to later-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Benzamides/therapeutic use , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy , Piperazines/therapeutic use , Pyrimidines/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Imatinib Mesylate , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Togo , Young AdultABSTRACT
AIM: Evaluate the conformity of blood red cells units prepared in the Lomé CNTS with European norms concerning volume, haemoglobin content and haematocrite. Measure the conservation of the haemostatic properties and the rate of haemostasis factors V and VIII in the fresh frozen plasma. Measure the rate of residual cells in the plasma. METHODS: In the year 2006, from March 1st to April 15th, we analysed the quality of 135 units of whole blood, red blood cells (RBC) and plasma from blood donors in the Lomé National Blood Transfusion Centre. The quality control had concerned: the volume of whole blood units; the volume, the haemoglobin content and the haematocrite of red blood cells units; the volume, the prothrombin rate, the cephalin with activator time (TCA), the rate of haemostasis factors V and VIII and the number of residual cells (red cells, leucocytes and platelets) in the plasma. RESULTS: Among the 135 units of whole blood which were controlled, 50.57% were in conformity with the norms concerning the volume. The red blood cells units were in conformity with norms concerning their volume, their haemoglobin content and their haematocrite respectively in 21.48%, 80.75% and 20% of the cases. The volume of 75.56% of the plasma units controlled were conform with the norm. All of the plasma units were conform with the norm concerning the number of residual platelets while the number of residual red blood cells and leucocytes were conform respectively in 80.74% and 60%. The percentage of conformity concerning the prothrombin rate, the TCA, the coagulation factor V and the factor VIII were respectively 66.67; 97.78; 48.89 and 47.4 before freezing, and 54.81; 88.14; 64.44; 84.44 a month after freezing. CONCLUSION: To improve the quality of the new blood products of the Lomé CNTS, some correctives actions must be applied concerning the adequate volume of blood which must be collected from the donors, the position of the blood bags in during the centrifugation and the volume of plasma which must be take out of the bag of red cells.
Subject(s)
Blood Transfusion , Laboratories/standards , Humans , Prospective Studies , Quality Control , TogoABSTRACT
The purpose of this report is to describe 4 cases of Biermer's anemia observed in West Africa over a 7-year period. Severe asthenia was the main clinical manifestation. Laboratory tests consistently demonstrated macrocytic anemia usually with a deep drop in hemoglobin levels ranging from 40 to 84 g/l associated with various degrees of thrombocytopenia or leukopenia. Other consistent findings were bone marrow megaloblastosis, serum vitamin B12 deficiency, and intrinsic factor antibodies. In most cases diagnosis was established on the basis of therapeutic tests with subsequent confirmation. Treatment using vitamin B12 therapy was successful in all cases. The authors recommend iron deficiency testing during the course of the disease and gastric biopsy during fibroscopy of upper digestive tract even if no macroscopic lesions are found.
