The complexities of transfusion reactions: Coexistence of a delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction and post-transfusion purpura.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Immune-mediated acute or delayed transfusion reactions occur when there is immunological incompatibility between transfused blood products and recipient's antibodies. Acute haemolytic transfusion reactions occur within 24 h and are delayed after 24 h up to 10 days following transfusion, whereas post-transfusion purpura (PTP) typically occurs 7-10 days post-transfusion. We present a case of a previously transfused and recently post-partum female who developed both delayed haemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) and PTP. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old woman, G2P1, with non-alcoholic liver disease, portal hypertension and previous transfusion history with allogeneic anti-E, developed a severe DHTR and PTP following a complicated post-partum course and multiple transfusions. The antenatal and initial post-partum pre-transfusion antibody screens were negative. Subsequently five red cell antibodies, including anti-c, anti-Fya, anti-Jkb and anti-S and the reappearance of anti-E were, however, identified during follow-up investigations along with the anti-platelet antibody HPA-3a and human leukocyte antigen class I antibodies. Anti-E, anti-Jkb and anti-S were eluted from the circulating red blood cells. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, there have been only two other case reports of DHTR and PTP occurring in the same patient.

Antenatal models of care for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: Vignettes from an international meeting.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes (GDM) is one of the commonest pregnancy complications and is placing an increasing burden on diabetes and obstetric resources. AIMS: To describe different antenatal models of care that have developed to address the increasing proportion of pregnancies complicated by GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Narrative review with thematic analysis from 15 volunteer antenatal diabetes in pregnancy services from Australia and New Zealand identified through a national diabetes organisation. Main outcomes were approaches to patient education, medical nutrition therapy (MNT), ongoing management and escalation of therapy for women with GDM. RESULTS: All clinics provided at least one group education and one MNT session within 1-2 weeks of GDM diagnosis. Women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities usually required 1:1 education. Ongoing management of women with GDM was through either all women being seen in the GDM clinic, a step-up approach (ongoing management by the primary antenatal team with diabetes team referral if self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) or insulin therapy dosage criteria are reached) or step-down approach (ongoing management by the diabetes team with step-down to the primary antenatal team if SBGM criteria are reached). Telehealth was used to reduce the burden of clinic attendance, particularly in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing numbers, earlier diagnoses, the need to provide care to women in rural, remote areas, and cultural/language differences, have generated a range of different antenatal models of care, allowed better workload accommodation and probably reduced costs. Randomised controlled trials of different models of care, with associated health economic analyses, are urgently needed.

A case of postpartum Group B streptococcal meningitis.

A case of postpartum Group B streptococcal meningitis, a rare complication of an invasive infection by a common maternal commensal bacterium, which demonstrates the need to develop rapid and accurate antepartum and intrapartum screening methods for this organism.