Febrile Non-Haemolytic Transfusion Reaction

8 Jun 2018

Febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reaction (FNHTR) is the most common transfusion reaction. Its needs to be differentiated from haemolytic transfusion reaction and bacterial contamination both of which are serious and potentially…

Factor VII

7 Jun 2018

Factor VII is a vitamin K dependent coagulation factor. It is a serine protease. Activation of factor VII is the first step in the coagulation cascade. Deficiency is rare and…

Vitamin K

6 Jun 20186 Jun 2018

Vitamin K was discovered by Henrik Dam in 1929 while studying cholesterol metabolism in chicken (see Discovery of Vitamin K and It's Targets and Antagonists). It is a co-factor for post translation…

Treatment of Warm Antibody Type Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia (WAIHA)

20 Feb 201820 Feb 2018

Warm antibody type of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (WAIHA) is characterised by anaemia, reticulocytosis, conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia with the presence of a positive anti-globulin (Coombs') test (see Diagnosis of haemolytic anaemia). It may…

Overview of Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

5 Sep 20171 Feb 2018

Myeloproliferative neoplasm are a group of disorders characterized by bone marrow proliferation with increase in the number of blood cells. The proliferation my be limited to one cell line or…

Anaemia with Thrombocytosis

8 Aug 20178 Aug 2017

A 49 year old woman presented with weakness and fatigability. On examination, other than pallor of the skin and mucosa there was no other finding.  A haemogram was done that…

Heme Synthesis

3 Aug 20177 Aug 2017

Heme, a porphyrin, is a co-factor in haemoglobin, myoglobin, cytochrome, catalase, heme peroxidase, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. It has a complex structure with four pyrrole rings with a ferrous…

Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF)

21 Apr 201723 Apr 2017

Neutropenia is a dose limiting toxicity of chemotherapy. It results in delay and dose reduction both of which adversely affect outcomes of treatment. Myeloid growth factors are biological agents that…

Clinical Features of Megaloblastic Anaemia

2 Jul 20162 Jul 2016

Megaloblastic anaemia is a macrocytic anaemia resulting from the deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid characterised by the presence of megaloblasts in the bone marrow. It has haematological and neurological…

The M-Band

29 Jun 201610 Jun 2018

What is an M-Band? Immunoglobulins are antigen binding molecules secreted by plasma cells. Immunoglobulins bind antigens and play a role acquired immunity. Plasma cells develop from antigen exposed B-lymphocytes. The…