Prevalence of factor V Leiden mutation in patients with thrombosis in Tunisia

This study determined the prevalence of inherited factor V Leiden mutation in a group of 128 thrombosis patients [102 with venous thrombosis and 26 with arterial thrombosis] attending a hospital in Sousse, Tunisia, and a control group of 100 with no history of thrombosis. Using an allele-specific PCR amplification technique, factor V Leiden was found in significantly more patients [20.3%] than controls [6.0%]. The higher prevalence was significant in the subgroup of venous thrombosis patients but not in arterial thrombosis patients. The allele frequency was 3.5% in the normal Tunisian population. Screening Tunisian patients with venous thrombosis and their relatives for factor V Leiden may be justified

Haemostatic disorders in nonsplenectomized and splenectomized thalassaemic children

A group of 40 thalassaemic patients [20 splenectomized and 20 nonsplenectomized] from the Haematology Unit of Tanta University Hospital [age range: 3-14 years] were studied to identify the mechanisms by which haemorrhagic and thrombotic complications occur in thalassaemic patients. The patients' levels of protein C, antithrombin III and in vitro platelet aggregation in response to collagen were compared with those of 20 controls. The study suggests that thrombocytosis, increased platelet aggregation and decreased natural coagulation inhibitors [protein C and antithrombin III] in splenectomized thalassaemic children may be significant in thrombotic complications in such patients. Defective platelet aggregation and prothrombin activity in nonsplenectomized children may also give rise to haemorrhagic tendencies