Laboratory parameters provided by Advia 2120 analyser identify structural haemoglobinopathy carriers and discriminate between Hb S trait and Hb C trait.

BACKGROUND: Haemoglobinopathies have spread owing to human migration, and the number of people needing diagnosis and management of these conditions is increasing. Clinicians need to accurately identify carriers and provide adequate genetic counselling in order to prevent the occurrence of homozygous or compound heterozygous offspring. OBJECTIVES: To identify red blood cell (RBC) laboratory parameters that discriminate between structural haemoglobinopathy carriers and healthy subjects, and to compare RBC laboratory indices between HbAS and HbAC individuals. METHODS: Samples of 500 variant Hb carriers (355 HbAS, 104 HbAC, 19 HbAD, 7 HbAE, 7 HbAO-Arab, 4 α-chain variants and 4 Hb Lepore) and 251 normal controls were run on an Advia 2120 analyser (Siemens). Classic haematological parameters and RBC populations were assessed in all subjects. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was created to predict the probability of a subject carrying any structural haemoglobinopathy. HbAS (n=355, 71%) and HbAC (n=104, 20.8%) subjects were compared. RESULTS: A clinical prediction rule was developed by assigning one point to each of the most efficient variables: mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <88.4 fL, RBC distribution width >13.4%, percentage of microcytic RBCs (%MICRO) >0.7% and the ratio of microcytic RBCs to hypochromic RBCs >0.8. A score of 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, resulted in a probability of 9.6%, 36.3%, 66.7%, 85.2% or 98.3%, respectively. Among the most frequent variant Hb, HbAC subjects had lower values of parameters related to cell size (MCV, %MICRO) and higher values of parameters related to haemoglobin concentration (MCHC, %HYPER) than HbAS subjects. Coexistence of α-thalassaemia in both HbAS and HbAC individuals resulted in decreased Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC. CONCLUSIONS: Structural haemoglobinopathy should be investigated in subjects belonging to ethnic groups with high prevalence of variant Hb and with a score of 3 or 4. Erythrocytes of HbAC subjects are smaller and denser than those of HbAS subjects.

Falso negativo en el primer cribado neonatal de hipotiroidismo congénito en recién nacido gemelo / False negative in the first neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism in a newborn twin

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Deficiencia parcial de 3B-hidroxiesteroide deshidrogenasa tipo 2: diagnóstico de una nueva mutación tras cribado neonatal positivo de deficiencia de 21-hidroxilasa / Partial 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 deficiency: Diagnosis of a novel mutation after positive newborn screening for 21-hydroxylase deficiency

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Reticulocyte parameters of delta beta thalassaemia trait, beta thalassaemia trait and iron deficiency anaemia.

AIMS: To analyse the differences in reticulocyte indices between delta beta thalassaemia trait (δß-TT), beta thalassaemia trait (ß-TT) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), and to correlate those differences with the physiopathological features of these three types of microcytoses. METHODS: We performed a descriptive study of 428 samples (43 δß-TT, 179 ß-TT and 206 IDA) that were run on Advia 2120 analyser (Siemens). The following reticulocyte indices were assessed: absolute reticulocyte count (ARC), percentage of reticulocytes, mean corpuscular volume of reticulocytes (MCVr), haemoglobin content of reticulocytes (CHr), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration of reticulocytes, red blood cell distribution width of reticulocytes (RDWr), haemoglobin distribution width of reticulocytes (HDWr) and reticulocyte subpopulations based on their fluorescence according to mRNA (low (L-R), medium (M-R) and high (H-R)), MCV ratio and MCHC ratio. Correlation between fetal haemoglobin (HbF) and RDWr in patients with thalassaemia was evaluated. RESULTS: RDWr was significantly higher in δß-TT compared with ß-TT (15.03% vs 13.82%, p<0.001), and so were HDWr (3.65% vs 3.27%, p<0.001), CHr (23.68 vs 22.66 pg, p<0.001) and MCVr (88.3 vs 85.5 fL, p<0.001). A good correlation was observed between HbF and RDWr (r=0.551, p<0.001). IDA subjects have more immature reticulocytes, but less ARC than ß-TT, suggesting a certain degree of inefficient erythropoiesis in IDA in comparison with ß-TT. CONCLUSIONS: Previously described differences between δß-TT, ß-TT and IDA in the corpuscular indices of mature red blood cell can also be observed in reticulocytes. The degree of anisocytosis in reticulocytes from patients with thalassaemia is correlated with HbF.

Prognostic value of deep sequencing method for minimal residual disease detection in multiple myeloma.

We assessed the prognostic value of minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in multiple myeloma (MM) patients using a sequencing-based platform in bone marrow samples from 133 MM patients in at least very good partial response (VGPR) after front-line therapy. Deep sequencing was carried out in patients in whom a high-frequency myeloma clone was identified and MRD was assessed using the IGH-VDJH, IGH-DJH, and IGK assays. The results were contrasted with those of multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC) and allele-specific oligonucleotide polymerase chain reaction (ASO-PCR). The applicability of deep sequencing was 91%. Concordance between sequencing and MFC and ASO-PCR was 83% and 85%, respectively. Patients who were MRD(-) by sequencing had a significantly longer time to tumor progression (TTP) (median 80 vs 31 months; P < .0001) and overall survival (median not reached vs 81 months; P = .02), compared with patients who were MRD(+). When stratifying patients by different levels of MRD, the respective TTP medians were: MRD ≥10(-3) 27 months, MRD 10(-3) to 10(-5) 48 months, and MRD <10(-5) 80 months (P = .003 to .0001). Ninety-two percent of VGPR patients were MRD(+). In complete response patients, the TTP remained significantly longer for MRD(-) compared with MRD(+) patients (131 vs 35 months; P = .0009).

Efficacy and safety of reduced-intensity induction therapy with a bortezomib-based regimen in elderly patients with multiple myeloma.

The therapeutic effects of bortezomib in untreated and refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma have been demonstrated in several clinical trials, displaying superiority to the conventional treatments. However, many treatment-related toxicities, such as bone marrow suppression, infections and peripheral neuropathy, are well known and lead to treatment discontinuation and dose modification, especially in elderly patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the published literature concerning the efficacy and safety of reduced-intensity induction therapy with bortezomib-based regimens in elderly patients with multiple myeloma. We used the VISTA trial as a reference and compared it with the seven trials identified in a systematic search. The data suggest that low-dose bortezomib significantly reduces therapy-related toxicities, especially neuropathy, and decreases the rate of discontinuation compared with the twice-weekly regimen, without losing efficacy. In light of this review, we suggest that once-weekly infusion of bortezomib in addition to melphalan-prednisone may be considered as a new standard of care in frontline treatment of elderly patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma.

Clinical, polysomnographic and laboratory characteristics of narcolepsy-cataplexy in a sample of children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To report our findings from a sample of narcoleptic children and adolescents evaluated in our unit from 1988 to 2005. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of nine children (5 boys) with a mean age of 14.5 years at diagnosis. The protocol included the following: Epworth, Ullanlinna narcolepsy scale, and Stanford cataplexy questionnaires; physical, psychological and neurological examinations; neuroimaging; PSG+MSLT recordings; HLA and in two cases Hcrt-1 level in CSF. RESULTS: Narcolepsy was sporadic in all cases. The first symptom was EDS with a mean age at onset of 9.4±2.5 years (range 6-13 years). All patients complained of cataplexy. Other symptoms were hypnagogic hallucinations (4 children) and sleep paralysis (3 children). All the children performed poorly at school, 4 had emotional disorders with depression, 4 displayed nocturnal eating and weight gain. Mean BMI was 25.0 kg/m(2). One girl was diagnosed as having precocious puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. The MRI showed a partial empty sella. Hcrt-1 was undetectable in her CSF. The mean Ullanlinna score was 24.6; PSG showed disturbed nocturnal sleep and the MSLT showed a mean sleep latency of 2.1 min and 3 SOREMPs. Eight children were DR2-DQ1-positive, whereas one boy was DR2-negative but DQ1-positive. In two patients, Hcrt-1 was undetectable. All children, in addition to scheduled naps during the day, were treated with modafinil or methylphenidate combined with an antidepressant and in two cases with sodium oxybate. CONCLUSION: NC was sporadic in all children and associated with precocious puberty and PCOS, hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance in one case. EDS, cataplexy, disturbed nocturnal sleep, nocturnal eating, poor school performance, and emotional disorders were the principal complaints. All patients had DQB1∗0602 and Hcrt-1 was evaluated in two cases (undetectable in both).