Efficacy of prophylaxis and genotype-phenotype correlation in patients with severe Factor X deficiency in Iran.

We aimed to evaluate the effect of regular prophylaxis with a Factor X (FX) concentrate for patients with severe FXD in Iran and to assess the correlation of the genotype and phenotype in these patients. Ten patients with severe FXD (FX activity <1%) were enrolled and characterized during 2010-2011. Prophylaxis with 20 IU FX P Behring per kg body weight was administered once a week. FX levels, were monitored at baseline, 15 and 30 min, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after starting prophylaxis. All patients were followed for 1 year. The mean age of the patients was 15 ± 7.8 years (age range of: 6-27 years). One patient had anaphylactic reaction after the first infusion, and the treatment was stopped. During one-year follow-up after starting prophylaxis, no bleeding symptoms occurred in any patient who tolerated and remained on the prophylaxis programme and all of them had a FX level of 1% or above. The maximum level of FX activity has been observed at 15 min after starting prophylaxis. A level of 1.5-3.5% was detected after 96 h. Homozygous mutations p.Arg40Thr (Arg-1Thr), p.Gly51Arg and p.Glu69Lys were detected in patients with intracranial haemorrhage. In our patients, significant decrease in symptoms without any complication after administration of FX, was demonstrated in all except one patient who had an anaphylactic reaction. It seems that the dose of 20 IU kg(-1) could be probably the best choice for patients with severe FXD, who require regular prophylaxis.

Comparison of attitudes towards prenatal diagnosis and termination of pregnancy for haemophilia in Iran and Italy.

Prenatal diagnosis (PND) is an important issue in the comprehensive care of haemophiliacs. As a consequence of technological progress made in the field of PND, the early detection of an affected fetus provides the expectant couple with a chance to terminate pregnancy. This study was undertaken to assess the attitudes of two different haemophilic populations in Iran and Italy towards PND and termination of pregnancy. This study series included 59 Iranians (38 haemophilia A patients and 21 mothers) and 50 Italians (27 haemophilia A patients, 16 mothers and seven fathers). All the 109 participants received a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and evaluating the psychological effects stemming from PND and termination of pregnancy. Approximately 84.7% of the Iranians and 35.4% of the Italians were not familiar with the possibilities afforded by PND for haemophilia (P < 0.001). Termination of pregnancy appeared to be accepted by 58.2% of the Iranian and 16.7% of the Italian participants (P < 0.001). The greater rate of acceptability of abortion in Iranians may be due to differences in the quality of patient care in the two countries.

Inherited coagulation disorders in southern Iran.

A comprehensive survey concerning the Shiraz Hemophilia Society and the associated haemophilia treatment centre was undertaken in April 2002 to collect data on demographics, signs and symptoms in the southern Iranian population with haemophilia and allied disorders. The total number of patients with coagulation disorders was 367. Haemophilia A (factor [F] VIII deficiency) was found in 271, 39 had haemophilia B (FIX deficiency) and 24 had von Willebrand disease. The rare coagulation disorders (n = 33) included 11 patients with FX deficiency; 10 with FVII; six with FXIII; two with afibrinogenaemia; two with FXI; one with combined FVIII and FV; and one with combined FVII, FVIII and FIX deficiency. The prevalence was 6.64 per 100,000 inhabitants. The most common symptoms were haemarthrosis, haematomas and epistaxis. None of the patients were human immunodeficiency virus positive but 47 (15%) were hepatitis C virus positive and two (0.7%) were hepatitis B positive, so that the rate of transfusion-transmitted infections was lower compared with other populations.