ABSTRACT
The Eastern Mediterranean is among the regions where sickle cell disease (SCD) is common. The morbidity and mortality of this disease can be postponed to adulthood through therapies implemented in childhood. The present study focuses on the organ damage-reducing effects of the Baskent Sickle Cell Medical Care Development Program (BASCARE), which was developed by a team who lives in this region and has approximately 25 years of experience. The deliverables of the program included the development of an electronic health recording system (PRANA) and electronic vaccination system; the use of low citrate infusion in routine prophylactic automatic erythrocyte exchange (ARCE) programs including pregnant women; the use of leukocyte-filtered and irradiated blood for transfusion; the use of magnetic resonance imaging methods (T2) for the management of transfusion-related hemosiderosis; and the implementation of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation protocol for adult patients. The sample was composed of 376 study subjects and 249 control subjects. The hospital's Data Management System and the central population operating system were used for data collection. BASCARE enabled better analysis and interpretation of complication and mortality data. Vaccination rates against influenza and pneumococcal disease improved (21.5% vs 50.8% and 21.5% vs 49.2%, respectively). Effective and safe ARCE with low citrate infusion were maintained in 352 subjects (1003 procedures). Maternal and fetal mortality was prevented in 35 consecutive pregnant patients with ARCE. Chelating therapy rates reduced from 6.7% to 5%. Successful outcomes could be obtained in all 13 adult patients who underwent allogeneic peripheral stem cell transplantation from a fully matched, related donor. No patients died by day 100 or after the first year. Cure could be achieved without graft loss, grades III to IV acute graft versus host disease, extensive chronic graft versus host disease, or other major complications. The BASCARE program significantly improved patient care and thereby prolonged the life span of SCD patients (42 ± 13 years vs 29â±â7 years, Pâ<â.001). We may recommend using such individualized programs in centers that provide health care for patients with SCD, in accordance with holistic approach due to the benign nature but malignant course of the disease.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell , Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Patient Care Management , Adult , Anemia, Sickle Cell/epidemiology , Anemia, Sickle Cell/therapy , Electronic Health Records/organization & administration , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Mortality , Patient Care Management/methods , Patient Care Management/organization & administration , Patient Care Management/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy , Preventive Health Services/methods , Program Development , Turkey/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin. Thiamine deficiency can present as a central nervous system disorder known as Wernicke's encephalopathy, which classically manifests as confusion, ataxia, and ophthalmoplegia. Wernicke's encephalopathy has rarely been reported following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Herein, we report Wernicke's encephalopathy in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia who had been receiving prolonged total parenteral nutrition after haploidentical allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported from Turkey in the literature.