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BACKGROUND: Unexpected neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) may have devastating consequences and its management is challenging. To design future trials, evidence from the literature and existing best practice need review. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of neonatal units in Germany and Canada to determine management strategies of NAIT and a systematic search for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). RESULTS: Management of NAIT differs substantially between countries with regard to platelet (PLT) thresholds for screening, initiation of therapy, and treatment. Seventy-seven percent of Canadian physicians versus 68 percent of German physicians screen preterm and term infants, at a PLT threshold of 30 x 10(9) to 100 x 10(9) per L. In preterm infants, 60 percent of Canadian neonatologists commence treatment at a PLT count of between 30 x 10(9) and 50 x 10(9) per L. In Germany 32 percent of the physicians start treatment at this level and 25 percent use a threshold of between 10 x 10(9) and 20 x 10(9) per L. In term infants, 6 percent of the Canadian physicians and 16 percent of the German physicians use even lower treatment triggers of between 5 x 10(9) and 10 x 10(9) per L. In the presence of bleeding, 61 percent of German physicians await the arrival of antigen-negative PLTs, while 64 percent of Canadian neonatologists prefer intravenous immunoglobulin or random-donor PLTs (81%). Maternal PLTs are utilized by 31 percent of physicians in both countries. No RCTs were identified. CONCLUSION: In the absence of RCTs, management of unexpected NAIT differs between countries. Clinicians and transfusion services may use the results of our study to develop collaborative protocols, redefine preferred hospitalwide strategies, and design future controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current cost of endoscopically screening patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Barrett's esophagus (BE) is considerable. A nonendoscopic device that allows for screening of these patients would offer significant cost savings. This pilot study evaluates the utility of cytologically diagnosing BE using a prototype flexible mesh catheter. Patients with known BE undergoing indicated surveillance endoscopy were enrolled in the study. Cytology specimens were obtained using a prototype flexible catheter and were evaluated for the presence of glandular cells, goblet cells, squamous cells, inflammation, and dysplasia. Eleven patients with BE were enrolled in the study. None of the patients experienced complications. Specimens from eight patients (73%) were adequate for evaluation and seven of these patients (87.5%) had goblet cells diagnostic for BE. In conclusion, flexible mesh catheters potentially offer a sensitive, inexpensive, and minimally invasive approach to evaluating patients with GERD and BE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Staff satisfaction surveys form part of our quality management program. In one survey conducted in July 1999, staff identified team development as an area requiring attention. This report describes a systematic approach used to identify areas of concern and to improve team interactions in our Transfusion Medicine Laboratory. Methods: A survey instrument called a Team Review Questionnaire was distributed to 52 staff members (technologists and laboratory assistants) working in four Transfusion Medicine Laboratories. Responses were anonymous, but identified by site using colour coded survey forms. Staff at two of the sites rotate between the two sites; hence, they were analysed as one group (i.e. total of 3 sites in the analysis). Responses were summarized and a descriptive analysis performed. The results guided the design of the workshops offered to support team development. Results: The response rate to the questionnaire was 79% (44/ 52) and was similar for each of the three sites surveyed (72%; 92%; 79%). The major areas of concern identified by all sites included trust, and conflict management. Workshops to deal with these 2 issues were designed and conducted in November 2000. Approximately 60% of the staff attended. Formative evaluation results have been positive, and staff have requested further workshops in other problem areas identified on the questionnaire. Summative evaluation results indicate that the majority of the staff who have attended the workshops to date (11/18) have used the skills that they have learned at the workshops on Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution. Conclusion: This study reports a systematic approach to identify specific issues related to team development. Since the staff from the four Transfusion Medicine Laboratories will work at a centralized site in the future, the team development strategy offers a practical approach to identify and resolve team conflict issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Surveillance programs have identified the transfusion of the wrong blood as one of the major problems that can result in patient morbidity and mortality. Statistics from the Hematology/Oncology Service at our hospital identified serious transfusion errors in 1% of transfused patients. This study was performed to establish the baseline transfusion knowledge of Hematology/Oncology nursing staff, and to identify possible solutions to improving knowledge and assessing competency of transfusion practice. Method: A questionnaire designed to assess knowledge of transfusion theory, administration/reactions, and special needs (irradiation, CMV) was given to Hematology/Oncology nurses from 2 hospital sites. Demographic information was also collected. Three focus group sessions were convened to obtain information about ways to effectively provide nurses with orientation, training and annual competency assessment of transfusion practice. Results: There were 36 of 52 nurses that answered the questionnaire (69% response rate). The overall mean test score was 69.6% with mean category percentages of 82.8% in theory, 68.1% in product administration/reactions, and 53.7% in special needs. Areas where knowledge gaps were identified included: selecting Rh compatible blood; recommended rate of infusion; appropriate product storage if the transfusion was delayed; signs/symptoms of reactions; relevance of a post transfusion temperature rise; and, the purpose of irradiating blood products. The number of special needs questions answered correctly depended on workplace site (P= 0.03), and the age of the nursing staff (P<0.01), with older nurses more likely to answer these questions correctly. Focus group sessions identified the need for: a specific transfusion medicine orientation session for nurses given by transfusion service staff, with a follow-up orientation after six months; laboratory orientation sessions for nurses; and shadowing/testing to assess ongoing competency of nurses who administer blood. Ways to achieve effective orientations, training and competency assessment were identified by the Hematology/Oncology nurses. Conclusion: Transfusion knowledge of Hematology/Oncology nurses at our institution was lacking in several areas. Customized programs to meet the needs of Hematology/Oncology nurses are required to improve transfusion knowledge and practice. This project provides baseline information to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing such programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is a fetomaternal incompatibility most commonly induced by maternal anti-HPA-1a alloantibodies. Transfusion of immunologically compatible platelets (PLTs) to prevent cerebral hemorrhage, the most severe complication in affected newborns, is usually recommended. Such PLT concentrates, however, are often not readily available., Study Design and Methods: The efficacy of random-donor PLT transfusions and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for the management of 17 neonates across four centers with unexpected, severe NAIT was evaluated. Neonates were treated with random-donor PLTs alone (n=7), random-donor PLTs with IVIG (n=8), or matched HPA-1bb PLTs (n=2)., Results: All but one patient (treated with random PLTs and IVIG) achieved a posttransfusion PLT count of higher than 30 × 10(9) /L after the first PLT transfusion. The PLT count remained higher than 30 × 10(9) /L for longer than 24 hours in five of seven, seven of eight, and two of four newborns who received random-donor PLTs alone, random-donor PLTs with IVIG, or matched HPA-1bb PLTs, respectively. None of the newborns developed major bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage. IVIG did not appear to improve either posttransfusion PLT counts or total PLT transfusion requirements., Conclusion: Transfusion of random-donor PLTs alone was effective at correcting critically low PLT counts and should be considered as first-line treatment of newborns with unexpected severe NAIT., (© 2013 American Association of Blood Banks.)

Hemovigilance systems are important programs for: monitoring trends of known risks; evaluating effectiveness of steps taken to reduce risks; providing data to support recommendations for change and guideline development; and contributing overall to the safety of transfusion. The Transfusion Transmitted Injury Surveillance System is the hemovigilance system implemented in Canada. It evolved in 1999 as a pilot program and expanded across Canada in 2005. Each province reports their adverse reactions to the transfusion of blood products and plasma proteins to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) at predetermined intervals. PHAC reconciles, summarizes the data and publishes a report approximately 2 years after the data are collected. This is considered a passive reporting system but in spite of the delays, the program provides useful information to address a variety of questions. Examples include: assessing the impact of a provincial patient transfusion history registry in Québec on reporting of hemolytic transfusion reactions; identifying trends of bacterial contamination of blood products and assessing the impact of interventions on these events; and the impact of male-only plasma on the incidence of Transfusion Related Acute Lung Injury. Although hemovigilance data has been successfully used to improve blood safety, we must continue to explore ways to utilize such data to improve and implement safe transfusion practices., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Rituximab may cause reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) even in patients with remote HBV infection. Thus, the presence of hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) was an exclusion criterion for a randomized trial of rituximab for patients with immune thrombocytopenia. A high seroprevalence of anti-HBc observed among patients screened for the trial prompted this substudy to investigate for an association between anti-HBc seropositivity and exposure to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)., Study Design and Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study that was a substudy of a randomized controlled trial., Results: Of 24 trial participants screened at one center, 11 (45.8%) were anti-HBc positive and of those, 10 (90.0%) had received IVIG in the preceding 4 weeks. Of 13 seronegative patients screened, five (38.5%) had received IVIG (odds ratio, 16; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-166.1). Seven (70%) of 10 seropositive participants subsequently reverted to negative upon repeat testing. Serial testing before and after IVIG (n = 2) demonstrated transient anti-HBc that lasted for up to 11 weeks after the last dose of IVIG. Samples from three of five different IVIG products were found to contain anti-HBc., Conclusions: Passive transfer of anti-HBc from certain IVIG products may lead to misinterpretation of hepatitis test results with implications for treatment and clinical trial eligibility. To avoid misleading test results, anti-HBc should be measured before or 3 months after IVIG administration; alternatively an IVIG product known to be free of anti-HBc should be used., (© 2010 American Association of Blood Banks.)

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT) is a fetomaternal incompatibility most commonly induced by maternal anti-HPA-1a, IgG alloantibodies against a polymorphic epitope of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex in approximately 97.5% of white patients. Current guidelines recommend transfusion of immunologically compatible platelets to prevent cerebral hemorrhage, the most severe complication in affected newborns. Such platelet concentrates, however, are often not readily available. In a retrospective analysis in German and Canadian centers, 27 newborns with NAIT were identified who received platelets from random donors. Unexpectedly, 24 of 27 newborns showed an increase above a threshold of 40 x 10(9) platelets per liter, with moderate (n = 8) or significant (n = 16) platelet count increments (more than 80 x 10(9)/L). We conclude that transfusion of platelet concentrates from random donors is an appropriate strategy in the management of unexpected, severe NAIT predominantly in first pregnancies, pending the availability of compatible platelets.

Background: Leukoreduction before storage, rather than bedside white blood cell filtration, is recommended to prevent hypotensive transfusion reactions., Study Design and Methods: Investigation of hypotensive transfusion reactions during radical prostatectomy in two patients on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. In Patient A, hypotension occurred during the transfusion of each of the following blood products: 2 units of autologous blood deposited and leukoreduced (LR) before storage; 3 units of allogeneic red cells LR before storage; and 2 units of non-LR acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) whole blood. When each of the transfusions was stopped, the blood pressure recovered. In Patient B, hypotension occurred during the transfusion of non-LR ANH whole blood. All implicated units were administered rapidly using a blood infuser at 37 degrees C. Bradykinin (BK) and des-Arg9-BK formation and degradation and the activity of kinin-degrading metallopeptidases were measured in plasma samples from both patients., Results: Degradation of des-Arg9-BK was severely impaired and the activity of aminopeptidase P severely reduced in Patient A, but not in Patient B. BK degradation was mildly impaired in both patients., Conclusion: Hypotensive reactions can occur with blood products that are LR before storage and non-LR ANH. An inherent defect in the metabolism of kinins may be a risk factor for the development of hypotensive transfusion reactions.

Factor V Leiden with activated protein C resistance is found in up to 5% of the population. It is associated with current adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal floor infarction is a lesion in which fibrin is deposited throughout the placenta, leading to necrosis of villi, and (50% of the time) fetal demise. It is also often recurrent. There is no known etiology of maternal floor infarction, nor is there a known treatment. We report a case of a 34-year-old G5, P2 with multiple pregnancy losses, including two fetal deaths. Placental pathology was obtained from one of the losses and was notable for maternal floor infarction. In the index pregnancy, she was evaluated for thrombophilia and found to have a significant protein C resistance of 1.59, consistent with a factor V Leiden. She was treated with low-molecular-weight heparin, enoxaparin, 40 mg twice a day, titrated to achieve an activated factor Xa activity level of 0.2 prior to her next dose. Her pregnancy was unremarkable until 39 weeks, when she developed a decreased amniotic fluid index. A 2995-kg healthy infant was delivered. The placenta showed no evidence of maternal floor infarction. This case demonstrates an association between maternal floor infarction and activated protein C resistance. It is also notable for a successful treatment of recurrent maternal floor infarction with prophylactic heparin. A single case report can only raise a question regarding associations. As we become more familiar with the thrombophilias, we may better understand the association of thrombophilias and placental disease as well as develop successful treatments.

Background: To establish the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of imaging and fine-needle aspiration (FNA), alone or in combination, in distinguishing benign from malignant histologic findings for parotid lesions., Methods: Retrospective blinded review of preoperative imaging and FNA studies of parotid masses and comparison with histologic findings after excision., Results: Forty-eight patients were identified (13 with CT, 35 with MRI); 23 (48%) of the lesions were malignant, 25 (52%) were benign. MRI, CT, and FNA misclassified 17%, 46%, and 21% of the lesions, respectively. The sensitivity/specificity/accuracy of these tests for detecting malignant lesions were as follows: MRI (88%,77%,83%), CT (100%,42%, 69%), and FNA (83%,86%,85%) and were not significantly different. Combinations of imaging and FNA were not significantly better in detecting malignancy., Conclusions: Imaging and FNA are comparable in their ability to correctly identify malignant parotid lesions preoperatively. Combining these two modalities yields no advantage in terms of specificity, sensitivity, or accuracy of a malignant diagnosis.

Background: Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a rare neoplasm of the salivary gland. This lesion, also known as malignant mixed tumor, occurs when a malignant tumor arises in the epithelial component of a pleomorphic adenoma. Reports of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) diagnosis of malignant mixed tumors are rare and have been limited to cases arising in the parotid. Cytologic features and diagnostic pitfalls of this uncommon neoplasm are presented., Case: A 75-year-old male presented with a nontender submandibular mass. The lesion had been present 12 months, with a recent increase in size. FNAB was performed, and the smears revealed a mixture of benign and malignant areas. The benign portion of the smears showed findings typical of pleomorphic adenoma. The malignant area showed large cells occurring singly and in groups. The malignant cells contained pleomorphic nuclei with irregular nuclear membranes and prominent macronucleoli; cytologically, they resembled cells from a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma., Conclusion: We present the first case of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the submandibular gland correctly diagnosed by FNAB. This rare salivary gland malignancy can be accurately diagnosed on FNAB if strict criteria are applied.

The cytologic features of the tall cell variant (TCV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma may be confused with those of other thyroid neoplasms with different prognoses and treatment modalities. Elucidation of the cytomorphology of this variant would be useful in planning treatment for this fairly aggressive variant of papillary carcinoma. The cytologic features of 20 cases of TCV were compared with those of 23 cases of the usual variant (UV) of papillary thyroid carcinoma and of 10 Hürthle-cell neoplasms (HCN). After a set of features was defined, the efficacy of employing it to distinguish TCV from UV and HCN was assessed by three cytopathologists (J.D.T., I.R., and M.O.), was independently examined 15 unknown cases selected by the first author. Aspirates of TCV showed some specific cytologic features which included large cell size with abundant granular cytoplasm and variably sized nuclei with granular chromatin. The cells were sometimes columnar, but more often were polygonal, and prominent cytoplasmic borders were present in 50% of cases. Intra-nuclear inclusions were more prominent in TCV than in UV. There was some overlap in the cytomorphology of some TCV and UV cases, and variable numbers of cells with UV features were encountered in TCV cases. Employing the cytologic features of TCV listed above, three cytopathologists examined the unknown cases, which included 7 cases of TCV, 4 cases of UV, and 4 cases of HCN. TCV was recognized as such by all three cytopathologists in 6 of 7 cases, and all UV and HCN were correctly typed by all three examiners. The cytologic features of TCV are sufficiently distinctive to enable separation from HCN and most cases of UV. Although the diagnosis of TCV may be rendered employing fine-needle aspiration biopsy, material, this diagnosis should be limited, in our opinion, to specimens which contain at least 30% of cells with typical TCV features.

Objective: To determine the validity and reproducibility of various cytologic criteria as discriminators between different glandular lesions of the cervix., Study Design: Seventy-three cervicovaginal smears with glandular lesions and a documented histologic and/ or clinical correlation were studied. The lesions included reactive changes, low grade glandular intraepithelial lesion (LGIL) (encompassing endocervical glandular dysplasia), high grade glandular intraepithelial lesion (HGIL) (encompassing adenocarcinoma in situ) and invasive adenocarcinoma (IA). Twenty-three cytologic criteria were used to evaluate the smears, and the results were scored and statistically analyzed., Results: Reactive lesions consistently showed well-defined cell borders, normal nuclear/cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio, minimal or absent nuclear overlapping, round to oval nuclei with fine chromatin and prominent nucleoli. HGIL (adenocarcinoma in situ) showed feathered edges, rosettes, cell strips, increased N/C ratio, elongated nuclei, marked nuclear overlapping and nuclei with hyperchromatic, coarse chromatin. IA shared features with HGIL but had a greater tendency to show a dirty background, single cells, mitotic figures, nuclear pleomorphism and large nucleoli. Logistic regression studies indicated that the presence of mitotic figures, a dirty background and single cells increases the odds ratio for predicting invasion. LGIL showed features similar to those of high grade lesions, but the changes were more subtle. These lesions were also less cellular and less likely to show cell strips, feathered edges and rosettes. Similar to HGIL and IA, LGIL showed nuclear overlapping, increased N/C ratio, oval to elongated nuclei and nuclear hyperchromasia., Conclusion: There is overlap between the cytologic criteria for the various glandular lesions of the cervix. However, some of these criteria can consistently distinguish clinically significant lesions from reactive benign changes seen in the glandular epithelium.

Objective: to determine whether balloon cytology would allow a nonendoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus., Methods: In 10 unselected patients with Barrett's esophagus, balloon cytology was performed with a Brandt esophageal cytology balloon catheter prior to endoscopy/esophageal biopsy. Specimens were cytologically evaluated for the presence of goblet cells and/or dysplasia., Results: No patient had goblet cells or definitive columnar cell dysplasia., Conclusion: This technique with a commercially available balloon catheter does not allow for a nonendoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.