Comparative analysis of iron status and other hematological parameters in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare serum ferritin (SF) concentrations and other hematological parameters between patients with preeclampsia (PE) and normal pregnant women of the same gestational period who received supplemental iron during pregnancy. METHODS: Prospective, comparative, observational pilot study that included 31 women with PE and 30 healthy pregnant women, at 20 weeks' of gestation. Ferritin, iron and complete blood cell count were compared between groups. RESULTS: In comparison with controls, preeclamptic patients had a higher weight, body mass index, and arterial pressure. Serum ferritin and serum iron were higher in patients with PE (median: 36.5 µg/l vs. 20.9 µg/l and 103.9 µg/dl vs. 90.8 µg/dl) with a significant difference (P = 0.019 and P = 0.345). SF values >40 µg/l correlated with PE (r = 0.281; P = 0.032). A platelet count less than 100 × 109/l was higher in the PE group than in the control group (13% vs. 3%, P = 0.354). CONCLUSION: Higher SF levels, despite being within normal range, were associated with PE. The incidence of thrombocytopenia was higher in preeclamptic women, however, the remaining hematological parameters were similar in both groups.

Matched sibling donors versus alternative donors in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric severe aplastic anemia in México.

Objectives Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a matched sibling donor (MSD) is the preferred initial treatment for children with severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Unfortunately, only about 30% of patients have a suitable human leukocyte antigen-matched sibling. Methods We have analyzed the outcome of 42 patients who received HSCT (22 MSD and 20 alternative donors (AD)) for SAA at the seven major pediatric HSCT centers in Mexico between 2001 and 2013. Results With a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 0.4-144), the 5-year overall survival in children transplanted from MSD was 86.4 + 7.3 vs. 49.5 + 11% for children after AD-HSCT (P = 0.013). The cumulative incidence of treatment-related mortality (TRM) was in the MSD-HSCT 9.1 + 3.9% vs. 47.6 + 9.1% in the AD-HSCT context (P = 0.007). Infectious complications contributed to death (91%) of most patients who received AD-HSCT. Discussion Even when the results of patients given MSD-HSCT are adequate, there is still much room for improvement particularly in children allografted with AD and in the supportive care. The development of an economicwise designed prospective project with MSD or matched unrelated donor HSCTs as a first line of treatment of children with SAA as a unified national trial could address these issues.