Pattern of factor VIII inhibitors in patients with hemophilia A in the north east of Iran.

This survey was conducted to evaluate coagulation factor VIII:C inhibitors among 102 hemophilia A patients from different cities of Khorasan province in north east of Iran in order to identify and characterize the pattern of inhibitor formation in these patients population. For this purpose, we randomly obtained plasma samples of 102 hemophilia A patients (44 patients with severe, 28 patients with intermediate and 30 patients with mild hemophilia A) and studied them using two tests: the APTT mix and Bethesda test were performed. In the whole group 20 patients (19.6%) factor VIII inhibitors were detected. These were in 11 patients with severe, five patients with intermediate and four patients with mild hemophilia A. None of patients with hemophilia A had previously been studied for the presence of an inhibitor, so there was no existing history of inhibitor evaluation.

High prevalence of parvovirus B19 IgG antibody among hemophilia patients attending Shiraz Center for Special Diseases

Human Parvovirus B19, the causative agent of fifth disease in childhood, lacks lipid envelop and is resistant to many physicochemical agents. B19 is a potential risk to hemophiliac patients receiving blood products.The present research is a descriptive and cross-sectional study. To determine the prevalence of the corresponding antibody in patients with hemophilia A or B or Von Willbrand's disease, we tested 180 hemophilia patients for anti B19 IgG. The results were compared with those of 400 age-matched controls subjects [male blood donors and children]. SPSS version 10 and Chisquar were used for data analysis.The overall prevalence of B19 IgG in the hemophilia patients was 74% [133/180] and in thecontrol 56.5% [226/400, p<0.001]. These observations demonstrate that parvovirus B19 is frequently transmitted by bloodproducts. Existing virus-inactivating methods do not prevent transmission