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Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the clinico-pathological features of primary gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin′s lymphoma (GI NHL) at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, and to compare our results to those reported in the literature. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three adult patients with primary GI NHL diagnosed over a 5-year period (2000 through 2005) were retrospectively studied clinically and histopathologically. They were classified using the REAL/WHO histopathologic classification. Results: Of the 23 patients with primary GI NHL, 14 (60.9%) were Saudis, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The mean age of male patients was 61. 3 years, ranging from 42-83 years with an SD of ±13.09; while for females, the mean age was 64 years, ranging from 50-75 years with an SD of ±9.14. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom (78.3%), and the most common primary site was the stomach (73.9%), followed by the small bowel (13%). The most frequent histologic subtype was the diffuse large B cell lymphoma, accounting for 60.9% of all cases, followed by the marginal-zone cell lymphoma (MALT type), which was Helicobacter pylori associated (39.1%). A large proportion of patients with primary GI NHL had early disease (Stage IE - 20%, Stage IIE - 58.6%). With regards to treatment, 15 patients (65.2%) had chemotherapy, while only 2 patients (8.7%) were treated by Helicobacter pylori eradication. The overall 5-year survival was 47.8%. Conclusion: The data demonstrated that primary GI NHL is more common among males, mainly in their sixth decade. Abdominal pain is the most common presenting symptom, with stomach being the most common involved site. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is the most frequent histologic subtype, followed by extranodal marginal-zone B cell lymphoma (MALT type), which was Helicobacter-associated. A majority of cases have early disease (stage IE and IIE), mostly treated by combination chemotherapy.

Abstract Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD, EC 1.1.1.49) deficiency is caused by one or more mutations in the G6PD gene on chromosome X. An association between enzyme levels and gene haplotypes remains to be established. Methods In this study, we determined G6PD enzyme levels and sequenced the coding region, including the intron-exon boundaries, in a group of individuals (163 males and 86 females) who were referred to the clinic with suspected G6PD deficiency. The sequence data were analysed by physical linkage analysis and PHASE haplotype reconstruction. Results All previously reported G6PD missense changes, including the AURES, MEDITERRANEAN, A-, SIBARI, VIANGCHAN and ANANT, were identified in our cohort. The AURES mutation (p.Ile48Thr) was the most common variant in the cohort (30% in males patients) followed by the Mediterranean variant (p.Ser188Phe) detectable in 17.79% in male patients. Variant forms of the A- mutation (p.Val68Met, p.Asn126Asp or a combination of both) were detectable in 15.33% of the male patients. However, unique to this study, several of such mutations co-existed in the same patient as shown by physical linkage in males or PHASE haplotype reconstruction in females. Based on 6 non-synonymous variants of G6PD, 13 different haplotypes (13 in males, 8 in females) were identified. Five of these were previously unreported (Jeddah A, B, C, D and E) and were defined by previously unreported combinations of extant mutations where patients harbouring these haplotypes exhibited severe G6PD deficiency. Conclusions Our findings will help design a focused population screening approach and provide better management for G6PD deficiency patients.

Objective: To evaluate the association between autoimmune thrombocytopenia with other autoimmune disorders, to show if they are different autoimmune diseases or one disease with different presentations at the same time, and to study the effect of treatment on platelet count in different thyroid condition., Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 141 patients with thrombocytopenic purpura. The result of thyroid function test, thyroid autoantibodies, Coombs' reactivity, anti-nuclear antibody, and double-stranded DNA were analyzed. This study was conducted in the Clinical Hematology Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between June 2003 and August 2010., Results: There were 51 (36.2%) patients with laboratory evidence of autoimmune disease, 13 (9.2%) with hypothyroidism, and 6 (4.3%) with hyperthyroidism. In addition, 5 (3.5%) patients showed laboratory evidence of Evan syndrome and 3 (2.1%) patients had isolated positive thyroid antibodies. There was non-significant difference (p=0.61) in platelets count after one month of treatment of patients with different thyroid condition., Conclusion: Immune thrombocytopenia is associated with evidence of different autoimmune disease or a combination of them, which may appear at presentation or during the course of disease giving evidence that they are different manifestations of a single disease. Screening patients for antithyroid antibodies would identify a patient at risk of developing overt thyroid disease. These patients may be further screened with a thyroid-stimulating hormone assay to detect subclinical thyroid disease.