This study reported a fairly similar pattern of donor deferrals as in other regional studies. Low haemoglobin levels and a history of hepatitis B infection were the most common factors for temporary and permanent donor deferrals, respectively.

BackgroundMyelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal stem cell disorders exhibiting cytopenias, ineffective hematopoiesis and morphological dysplasia. Bone marrow cytogenetics, inspite of being incorporated as mandatory tool in diagnosis are done less frequently due to limited availability of this technique in Pakistan. The aim of the study was to study baseline clinicohematological and cytogenetic characteristics of patients presenting with de novo MDS.ResultsA retrospective cross sectional study was done at National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan from 2010 to 2016. Total of 177 patients were included in the study having median age 51 years and male to female ratio of 3:1. Pancytopenia was observed in 80 (45%) patients and bicytopenia in 74 (42%). Mean Hb% was 7.8 ± 2.18 g/dl, total leukocyte count (TLC) 8.8 ± 13.6 × 109/l, platelet count was 82 ± 95.7 × 109/l. Of total 170 (96%) were transfusion dependent. Refractory cytopenias with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) was the most common world health organization (WHO) category. Karyotype was done in 98 (55%) patients out of which 44 (45%) had abnormal karyotype, complex karyotype (CK) was most commonly observed in 12 (12.2%) followed by monosomy 7 in 7 (7.1%).ConclusionsWe found younger median age at diagnosis, higher mean TLC and no significant history of recurrent infections. CK and monosomy 7 carry bad prognostic implications and early disease transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Monosomy 7 being associated with bad overall survival, such patients must be identified early with close clinical follow up and offered stem cell transplant. This is the largest cohort of patients of MDS evaluated for baseline clinical and cytogenetic characteristics in our country.

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ABO and Rh phenotypes in the general Pakistan population. This information could be used to help reduce the rate of alloimmunization in patients with blood disorders, such as thalassemia major, who require frequent blood transfusions. A total of 242 patients with blood disorders requiring frequent blood transfusions were enrolled in the study. ABO and Rh typing was performed on samples from these patients using tube and gel methods. Of these 242 patients, 146 (60.4%) were male and 96 (39.6%) were female. The prevalence of ABO and D phenotypes was as follows: group O, D+ (38.8%), group O, D-(2.5%), group B, D+ (32.2%), group A, D+ (17.4%), group A, D-(1.7%), and group AB, D+ (7.4%). Of the 242 patients, 232 (95.8%) were D+ and 10 (4.2%) were D-. The most prevalent Rh antigen was found to be e (97%), followed by D (95%), C (89.6%), c (62.8%), and lastly, E (22.6%). The prevalence of Rh phenotypes was: R 1 R 1 (37.7%), R 1 r (33.4%), R 1 R 2 (19.4%), R 2 r (5.2%), and rr (4.3 %). All of the D-patients were rr. In our study, the highest prevalence of ABO phenotypes was group O and the most prevalent Rh antigen was e. Rh phenotyping, along with antibody screening and identification should be performed prior to transfusion of patients requiring multiple transfusions to reduce and possibly prevent the rate of alloimmunization. Immunohematology 2016;32:170-173.

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the presence and characteristics of additional karyotype abnormalities in chronic myeloid leukaemia cases. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Cytogenetics and Molecular Pathology, National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplant, Karachi, from May 2010 to September 2016 and comprised diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemiapatients regardless of age and gender.Baseline cytogenetic evaluation was done on overnight, 24-hrs un-stimulated and 72-hrs stimulated bone marrow cultures, and karyotypes were defined according to the International System for Human Cytogenetic Nomenclature2013. Data was analysed using SPSS 23. Results: There were 222 cases with a median age of 38 years (range: 12-84 years). The male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1. Chronic myeloid leukaemiawas detected in 18(8.1%) patients havingadditional cytogenetic abnormalities. Among the patients found positive, cytogenetic type was minor in 10(55.55%), major 3(16.66%), complex 3(16.66%), and variant 2(11.11%). . Conclusion: Additional cytogenetic abnormalitieswere found in 8% of the sample. Key Words: Additional cytogenetic abnormalities, Chronic myelogenous leukaemia, Bone marrow, Cytogenetics.