Salam Al Kindi

Appropriate Antiviral Therapy can Prevent Hepatitis B Reactivation and Progression in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia on Therapy with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors

Antiviral Therapy and Hepatitis B Reactivation Outcomes in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: Viral Hepatitis reactivation can occur in patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), with potentially fatal complications. We aimed to assess hepatitis reactivation in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with TKIs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and laboratory …

The Prevalence and Correlates of Aberrant Opioid-Related Behaviours among Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Oman: A cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of aberrant opioid-related behaviours (AORB) among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Oman and identify associated risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman from June to Dece …

Neonatal Screening: Mean haemoglobin and red cell indices in cord blood from Omani neonates

Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the interpretation of red blood cell indices in complete blood count (CBC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results on cord blood samples in consecutive Omani neonates. Methods: Cord blood samples from 7,837 neonates, were analysed with CBC and HPLC usi …

Umbilical Cord Blood Banking and Transplantation: A short review

It is more than 20 years since the first cord blood transplant (CBT) was performed, following the realisation that cord blood (CB), which is normally wasted, is rich in progenitor cells and capable of rescuing haematopoiesis. Since then it has been appreciated that CB is rich in stem cells, and has many other features …

Successful Use of Alternative Anticoagulants in the Management of Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia with Thrombotic Complications: Report of 5 cases and review of literature

Heparin is one of the most frequently used anticoagulants. It is easy to use, but can be associated with life-threatening side effects. One of these is heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome (HITS), which develops in about 3–5% of patients exposed to heparin and is associated with thrombosis in 1% of cases. We repor …

Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: Case report and review of the literature

Plasma cell myeloma is an uncommon disease which, besides primarily involving the bone marrow, has a tendency to involve other organs thus presenting with different clinical manifestations. While pleural effusions are infrequent in this disease, true myelomatous pleural effusions are extremely rare. We report the case …

Accuracy of Platelet Counting by Optical and Impedance Methods in Patients with Thrombocytopaenia and Microcytosis

Objectives: Obtaining accurate platelet counts in microcytic blood samples is challenging, even with the most reliable automated haematology analysers. The CELL-DYN™ Sapphire (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois, USA) analyser uses both optical density and electronic impedance methods for platelet counting. This stu …

First Implementation of Transfusion Consent Policy in Oman: Audit of compliance from a tertiary care university hospital

Objectives: Transfusions are a common medical intervention. Discussion of the benefits, risks and alternatives with the patient is mandated by many legislations prior to planned transfusions. At the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, a written transfusion consent policy was introduced in March 2014 …

Impact of Educational Activities in Reducing Pre-Analytical Laboratory Errors: A quality initiative

Objectives: Pre-analytic errors during diagnostic laboratory investigations can lead to increased patient morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to ascertain the effect of educational nursing activities on the incidence of pre-analytical errors resulting in non-conforming blood samples. Methods: This study was condu …

First Cytogenetic Profile of Omani Patients with de novo Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Comparison with data from Asia, Africa, Europe and North and South America

Clonal cytogenetic abnormalities have been reported among 30–80% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS); however, 20–70% of patients with MDS show a normal karyotype that may nevertheless harbour a cryptic genetic alteration. Earlier reports have suggested that the distribution of specific chromosomal aberrat …

The Challenges in Diagnosis and Management of Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Consensus Report from Three Gulf Countries

Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) is a rare hematological emergency characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, and multiorgan failure due to autoimmune-mediated deficiency in ADAMTS-13 activity. Currently, plasma exchange, with or without steroids, is the frontline op …

Clinicopathological Profile of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria among Omani Patients: A Case Series

We aimed to estimate the nature and prevalence of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) among Omani patients. We performed a retrospective review of all patients who were tested for PNH by flow cytometry at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, between 2012 and 2019. Manifestations, treatment modalities, a …

Nutritional and Hematological Status of Sudanese Women of Childbearing Age with Steady-state Sickle Cell Anemia

Objectives: We sought to investigate the nutritional and hematological status of Sudanese women of childbearing age with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Anthropometry and hematology were used to assess nutritional status and health and disease conditions, respectively. Methods: Women with steady-state (HbSS, n = 39; age = 19 …

Respiratory Viral Infections in Sickle Cell Anemia: Special Emphasis on H1N1 Co-infection

Objectives: Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are immunocompromised and at an increased risk of developing infections. Our aim was to establish the clinical, laboratory, and radiological manifestations of respiratory viral infections in SCA at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Oman and assess its impact on …

Can Gestational Anemia be Alleviated with Increased Awareness of its Causes and Management Strategies? Implications for Health Care Services

Objectives: We conducted this study to assess the risk factors of gestational anemia and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally-tailored nutrition educational intervention on hemoglobin (Hb) status among pregnant Omani women. Newborn birthweight was used as a birth outcome. Methods: The study was conducted in two p …

Impact of Aberrant Myeloid Antigen Expression on Outcomes of Patients with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of myeloid antigen expression on complete remission (CR), event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS) in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) treated with intensive chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients diagnosed with T-A …

Biclonal Gammopathy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Monoclonal gammopathies are frequently seen in B-cell malignancies. Monoclonal proteins are seen in a significant proportion of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which is a clonal disorder of mature B cells. The use of more sensitive laboratory methods has enabled the detection of monoclonal proteins or …

Rituximab Leads to Long Remissions in Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia

Objectives: To assess the response rate and duration of response in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) receiving rituximab. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 32 consecutive patients with chronic ITP who were treated in two tertiary centers in Oman. Response assessment was based on the American Socie …

Genital Ulcer Development in Patients with Acute Promyelocytic Leukaemia Treated with All-Trans Retinoic Acid: A Case Series

We report here four cases of genital ulcers that developed after the administration of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Between October 2007 and March 2010, three males and one female (age range 19-35 years) were identified to have genital ulcers after being prescr …