RESUMEN
Background: Spleen has been found to be the earliest organ involved in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with variable manifestations in different geographical regions. It usually undergoes autosplenectomy by adolescence but in countries like India, the course of the disease and splenic manifestations are different. And here we aim to study these differences and the relationship between spleen size and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and various splenic complications in our patients with sickle cell disease. Materials and Methods: This is an observational study of 62 adult patients with sickle cell disease admitted in our prestigious institute in the northwestern part of India, mostly hailing from the tribal population. The clinical and ultrasonographic methods have been used to identify splenomegaly and spleen size and prevalence have been calculated. The correlation coefficient has been calculated between fetal hemoglobin, sickle hemoglobin, and spleen size. Results: The analysis done revealed that 77.4% of patients had abnormal spleen with high average HbF(14.9±5.0) values compared to those who had normal spleen(12.12±4.1). Only 2 patients were found to have no spleen and 3.3% had splenic infarct. All patients with splenomegaly had anemia, 51.6% of patients were in sickle cell crisis and 22.5% were having infections. We also found a weak but positive correlation between spleen size and HbF. Conclusion: This study revealed the persistence of the spleen, the high prevalence of splenomegaly in the Indian adult population with sickle cell disease, and higher levels of fetal hemoglobin, the exact reason for which is still a subject of speculation that needs research. But this paper provides clear evidence of different natural courses of SCD in India.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To establish efficacy and safety of artesunate/lumefantrine fixed-dose combination (FDC) in comparison with artemether/lumefantrine FDC in treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. METHODS: Confirmed cases of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were randomly assigned to receive artesunate (100 mg)/lumefantrine (480 mg) (ASLF FDC) or artemether (80 mg)/lumefantrine (480 mg) (AMLF FDC) tablets for 3 days. Patients were followed up on Day 7, 14, 21 and 28. RESULTS: Of the 158 enrolled patients, 144 completed the study. Seventy-three patients (94.8%) from the ASLF group and 71 patients (94.7%) from the AMLF group showed parasite clearance within 48 h. The mean parasite clearance time was 25.40 ± 14.82 h in the ASLF group and 24 ± 13.32 h in the AMLF group (P = 0.542). All patients showed gametocyte clearance by Day 7 and remained gametocyte free till Day 28. Sixty-five patients (84.4%) from the ASLF group and 56 patients (74.7%) from the AMLF group were afebrile within 24 h. The mean fever clearance time was 17.38 ± 12.33 h in the ASLF group and 17.2 ± 12.01 h in the AMLF group (P = 0.929). There was one early treatment failure in the AMLF group as per WHO criteria. Improvement in haemoglobin and haematocrit was comparable in both the treatment groups. In the ASLF group, of the 25 (32.47%) patients anaemic at baseline, only seven (9.09%) reported anaemia on Day 28, while in the AMLF group, of the 14 (18.67%) patients anaemic at baseline, only four (5.33%) reported anaemia on Day 28. Both study medications were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Artesunate (100 mg)/lumefantrine (480 mg) fixed-dose combination could add one more option to currently available artemisinin combinations in treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria.
