No abstract

The population of India is extremely diverse comprising of more than 3,000 ethnic groups who still follow endogamy. Haemoglobinopathies are the commonest hereditary disorders in India and pose a major health problem. The data on the prevalence of β-thalassemias and other haemoglobinopathies in different caste/ethnic groups of India is scarce. Therefore the present multicentre study was undertaken in six cities of six states of India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam, Karnataka and Punjab) to determine the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in different caste/ethnic groups using uniform methodology. Fifty-six thousand seven hundred eighty individuals (college students and pregnant women) from different caste/ethnic groups were screened. RBC indices were measured on an automated haematology counter while the percentage of HbA(2), HbF and other abnormal Hb variants were estimated by HPLC on the Variant Hemoglobin Testing System. The overall prevalence of β-thalassemia trait was 2.78 % and varied from 1.48 to 3.64 % in different states, while the prevalence of β-thalassemia trait in 59 ethnic groups varied from 0 to 9.3 %. HbE trait was mainly seen in Dibrugarh in Assam (23.9 %) and Kolkata in West Bengal (3.92 %). In six ethnic groups from Assam, the prevalence of HbE trait varied from 41.1 to 66.7 %. Few subjects with δβ-thalassemia, HPFH, HbS trait, HbD trait, HbE homozygous and HbE β-thalassemia as well as HbS homozygous and HbS-β-thalassemia (<1 %) were also identified. This is the first large multicentre study covering cities from different regions of the country for screening for β-thalassemia carriers and other haemoglobinopathies where uniform protocols and methodology was followed and quality control ensured by the co-ordinating centre. This study also shows that establishment of centres for screening for β-thalassemia and other haemoglobinopathies is possible in medical colleges. Creating awareness, screening and counselling can be done at these centres. This experience will help to formulate a national thalassemia control programme in India.

Essentials• Congenital afibrinogenemia causes a potentially lifethreatening bleeding and clotting tendency.• Two human fibrinogen concentrates (HFCs) were compared in a randomized pharmacokinetic study.• Bioequivalence was not shown for AUC norm , which was significantly larger for the new HFC.• Increases in clot strength were comparable, and no thromboses or deaths occurred in the study. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 16: 253-261 DOI: 10.1111/jth.13923 increases in clot strength were comparable between concentrates.

Background Congenital fibrinogen deficiency is an ultra‐rare disorder in which patients can experience severe and/or frequent bleeding episodes (BEs). Here, we present the largest prospective study to date on the treatment of this disorder. Methods Hemostatic efficacy of human fibrinogen concentrate (HFC; FIBRYGA®, Octapharma AG) for treatment of bleeding or surgical prophylaxis was assessed by investigators and adjudicated by an independent data monitoring and endpoint adjudication committee (IDMEAC) according to a four‐point scale, using objective criteria. Thromboelastometry maximum clot firmness (MCF) was also determined. Results Twenty‐five afibrinogenemia patients were treated with HFC: 24 for on‐demand treatment of 89 BEs, and nine as prophylaxis for 12 surgeries. For BEs, treatment success (rating of excellent or good) evaluated by investigators was 96.6% (90% confidence interval [CI], 0.92‐0.99; two missing ratings, classified as failures) and by the IDMEAC was 98.9% (90% CI, 0.95‐0.999). Mean ± standard deviation (SD) increase in MCF was 5.8 ± 2.5 mm one hour after the first HFC infusion (mean ± SD dose, 61.88 ± 11.73 mg/kg). For the 12 surgeries (median [range] HFC dose/surgery, 85.80 mg/kg [34.09‐225.36]), intraoperative and postoperative treatment success were both rated 100% (90% CI, 0.82‐1.00) by investigators and the IDMEAC. Three adverse events were possibly treatment related, including a moderate case of thrombosis. There were no deaths, no severe allergic or hypersensitivity reactions, and no clinical evidence of neutralizing antifibrinogen antibodies. Conclusions Human fibrinogen concentrate was efficacious for on‐demand treatment of bleeding and as surgical prophylaxis, with a favorable safety profile, in patients with congenital afibrinogenemia.

The β-thalassemias and sickle cell disorders are a major health burden in India. Diagnosis and management of these disorders both in adults and in newborns using appropriate approaches and uniform technology are important in different regions of a vast and diverse country as India. In view of a National Thalassemia Control Program to be launched soon, a need was felt for guidelines on whom to screen, cost-effective technologies that are to be used as well as for establishing prenatal diagnosis programs in regional centers. Newborn screening for sickle cell disorders is in its infancy in India and uniform approaches need to be followed. Also, included are guidelines for monitoring and managing patients who are now growing older and need comprehensive care as well as management of complications of the disease.