Iron Deficiency Anemia Presenting With Pancytopenia: A Study From India.

INTRODUCTION: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common cause of anemia worldwide. IDA is commonly associated with thrombocytosis and normal or slightly decreased leukocyte count. Sometimes it can present with thrombocytopenia, but rarely present with pancytopenia. Here we are presenting six cases of severe iron deficiency presenting with pancytopenia, which responded to iron replenishment. METHODS:  This 12-month observational study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine at a tertiary care Centre in India. All cases of pancytopenia (after exclusion of other causes) with IDA were included. IDA was established with the help of a complete blood count (CBC), peripheral smear examination, serum iron studies, and serum ferritin.  Results: In our study, CBC at four weeks later of iron transfusion without other supplementation showed significant improvement in hematological parameters. CONCLUSION:  Severe iron deficiency is a reversible etiology of pancytopenia. It should be kept as a differential diagnosis of pancytopenia if common causes of pancytopenia are ruled out.

Does dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate have a role in COVID-19 prognosis and treatment?

The pathophysiology of COVID comprises an exaggerated pro-inflammatory response. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has a crucial role in various inflammatory conditions and modulated immunological response. Limited evidence is available regarding the incidence and the effect of HPA dysfunction in COVID-19. Although the cortisol levels have only been estimated in a few studies, the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) release from the adrenal gland has not been explored yet. In this mini review, the authors discuss the role of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEAS in the acute stress response and immunological modulation. Various effects of DHEAS have been demonstrated in different diseases. The specific inhibitory effect of DHEA on interleukin 6 (IL-6) could be of paramount importance in COVID-19. Further, DHEA supplementation has already been proposed in inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis. DHEAS levels in COVID-19 may help to understand the HPA axis dysfunction as well as the possibility of repurposing DHEA as a drug for mitigating the pro-inflammatory COVID-19.

The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR) position statement for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in adults.

The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR) has herein drafted clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis for the people of India. Implementation of the position statement in clinical practice is expected to improve the overall care of patients with osteoporosis in India. PURPOSE: In India, osteoporosis is a major public health problem. However, in the absence of any robust regional guidelines, the screening, treatment, and follow-up of patients with osteoporosis are lagging behind in the country. METHODS: The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR), which is a multidisciplinary group of physicians, researchers, dietitians, and epidemiologists and who study bone and related tissues, in their annual meeting, drafted the guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis that would be appropriate in a resource constraint setting like India. RESULTS: Diagnosis of osteoporosis can be made in a patient with minimal trauma fracture without the aid of any other diagnostic tools. In others, bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry remains the modality of choice. Data indicates that osteoporotic fractures occur at an earlier age in Indians than in the West; hence, screening for osteoporosis should begin at an earlier age. FRAX can be used for fracture risk estimation; however, it may underestimate the risk of future fractures in our population and still needs validation. Maintaining optimum serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels is essential, which, in most cases, would require regular vitamin D supplementation. Pharmacotherapy should be guided by the presence/absence of vertebral/hip fractures or the severity of risk based on clinical factors, although bisphosphonates remain the first choice in most cases. Regular follow-up is essential to ensure adherence and response to therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the position statement in clinical practice is expected to improve the overall care of patients with osteoporosis in India.

New-onset hyperglycaemia and prolonged systemic corticosteroids therapy in mild COVID-19 patients as major risk factors for invasive mucormycosis: a preliminary study.

Background and Purpose: Rapid surge of invasive mucormycosis has surprised the Indian healthcare system amidst the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Hence, there is an urgent need to find the risk factors for the sudden rise in cases of invasive mucormycosis among COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to find crucial risk factors for the sudden surge of invasive mucormycosis in India. Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 77 cases of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) who matched the controls (45 controls) in terms of age , gender, and COVID-19 disease severity. The control group included subjects that matched controls without mucormycosis confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at our tertiary care center during April-May 2021. Probable predisposing factors, such as duration of diabetes mellitus (DM), history of recent hospitalization, duration of hospital stay, mode of the received oxygen supplementation, and use of steroids, zinc, vitamin c, and any other specific drugs were collected and compared between the two groups. Moreover, the laboratory parameters, like glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were analyzed to find out the significant association with CAM. Results: DM (Odds ratio=7.7, 95% CI 3.30-18.12; P=<0.0001) and high glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c>7.5 gm %) (odds ratio=6.2, 95% CI 1.4-26.7; P=0.014) were significant risk factors for the development of invasive mucormycosis among the COVID-19 cases. A higher number of mild COVID-19 cases developed CAM, compared to the moderate to severe cases (59.7% vs 40.3%). Use of systemic corticosteroids (odd ratio=5 with 95% CI 1.5-16.9; P=0.007) was found to be a risk factor for invasive mucormycosis only in mild COVID-19 cases. Use of oxygen, zinc, and vitamin C supplementation, and proprietary medicine did not lead to a significant risk of invasive mucormycosis in cases, compared to controls. Cases with invasive mucormycosis had a higher level of inflammatory markers (hs-CRP and ESR, P=<0.001 and 0.002, respectively), compared to the controls. Conclusion: Uncontrolled and new-onset DM and the use of systemic corticosteroids in mild cases were significantly associated with a higher risk of invasive mucormycosis in COVID-19 cases. There should be a strong recommendation against the use of systemic corticosteroids in mild COVID-19 cases.

Reference range of random urinary calcium creatinine ratio in North Indian children and adolescents.

PURPOSE: Urinary calcium creatinine ratio (UCaCrR) is a reliable indicator for monitoring hypercalciuria following vitamin D supplementation. However, the reference range varies from region to region. Previous studies did not take vitamin D and parathyroid hormone status into account while evaluating UCaCrR. Hence, we undertook this study to establish the 95th percentile of UCaCrR as an indicator of hypercalciuria in North Indian children and adolescents. METHODS: Four hundred seventy-three participants (boys 62.2%, girls 37.8%) with adequate dietary calcium intake, normal serum levels of 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (>20 ng/mL), and without secondary hyperparathyroidism following supplementation were selected for evaluation of UCaCrR. RESULTS: The mean age and body mass index of subjects were 11.2±2.6 years and 18.0±3.6 kg/m2, respectively. The 95th percentile of UCaCrR in the study population was 0.126. The mean, median, and 95th percentile of UCaCrR was significantly higher in prepubertal children (age ≤10 years) (0.0586±0.0374, median=0.0548, 95th percentile=0.136) compared to those >10 years old (0.0503±0.0363, median=0.0407, 95th percentile=0.123, P=0.02). No significant difference in UCaCrR was observed between genders and different weight categories. CONCLUSION: UCaCrR of 0.13 defines the cutoff value for hypercalciuria in North Indian children and adolescents with adequate dietary intake of calcium and sufficient serum vitamin D levels.

Impact of three different daily doses of vitamin D3 supplementation in healthy schoolchildren and adolescents from North India: a single-blind prospective randomised clinical trial.

In India, there is a lack of information about the adequate daily dose of vitamin D3 supplementation in school children. Hence, we undertook this study to evaluate the adequacy and efficacy of different doses of vitamin D3 in schoolchildren. A total of 1008 vitamin D-deficient (VDD) children, aged 6-16 years with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels <50nmol/l, were cluster randomised into three groups (A-344, B-341 and C-232) for supplementation (600, 1000 and 2000 IU daily) of vitamin D3 under supervision for 6 months. Of the 1008 subjects who completed the study, 938 (93 %) were compliant. Baseline and post-supplementation fasting blood and urine samples were evaluated for Ca, phosphates, alkaline phosphatase, 25(OH)D and parathormone and urine Ca:creatinine ratio. The mean age of the subjects was 11·7 (sd 2·4) years, and the overall mean baseline serum 25(OH)D level was 24·3 (SD 9·5)nmol/l. Post-supplementation rise in serum 25(OH)D in compliant group was maximum with 2000 IU (70·0 (SD 30·0)nmol/l), followed by 1000 IU (46·8 (SD 22·5)nmol/l) and 600 IU (36·5 (SD 18·5)nmol/l), and serum 25(OH)D levels of ≥50nmol/l were achieved in 71·5, 81·8 and 92·9 % by groups A, B and C, respectively. Secondary hyperparathyroidism decreased from 31·7 to 8·4 % post-supplementation. Two participants developed hypercalciuria, but none developed hypercalcaemia. Children with VDD benefit maximum with the daily supplementation of 2000 IU of vitamin D3. Whether recommendations of 400 IU/d by Indian Council of Medical Research or 600 IU by Indian Academy of Pediatrics or Institute of Medicine would suffice to achieve vitamin D sufficiency in children with VDD remains debatable.