Spectrum of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre

Kalyani Nilkanth Bapat, Nina G Desai — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome resulting from hypercytokinemia due to highly stimulated but ineffective immune response. Early recognition remains a challenge because its presenting features overlap with many other infective and inflammatory conditions. Prompt identification hence requires a high index of suspicion and detailed analysis of clinical and laboratory findings to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis. At the same time identifying the underlying cause is important as it guides treatment decisions thus reducing morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.

Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for HLH, based on the HLH 2004 protocol of the Histiocyte Society, over a period of one year were included in the study. For these patients clinical features, laboratory parameters and etiological factors were studied.

Results: In the course of over one year 16 patients were diagnosed with HLH . Common presenting symptom was fever in all patients. The etiology in our study was mainly secondary to infections namely Dengue-2, Leptospirosis-1, Visceral Leishmaniasis-1, EBV infection=1, Tuberculosis-3 and other causes like Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL)-1, SLE-2 and 1 patient with Primary HLH. In 4 cases the etiology was unclear. All patients fulfilled the HLH 2004 criteria.

Conclusion: Clinicians should keep a high degree of suspicion in any patient presenting with fever, rapidly developing cytopenias and organomegaly. Also an attempt to identify specific etiology should be made in every patient as early diagnosis and specific treatment helps to reduce the high mortality associated with this disease.

Effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Concentrations of Serum Lipid Profile and Electrolytes in Students of Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a nutritional index used to measure the level of obesity in individuals and other weight associated abnormalities. This study was intended to investigate the effect of the various BMI classifications on total cholesterol (TCHOL), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), potassium, sodium and chloride.

Material and Methods: A total of 100 samples were collected, 25 from each BMI classification of normal, underweight, overweight and obese individuals. Five millimetres of whole blood samples were collected into plain and EDTA anticoagulant bottles respectively after an overnight fast by venepuncture. The studied biochemical parameters were determined using WHO-approved methods and data obtained were analysed using the student t-test obtained from SPSS version 23.

Result: The result showed that BMI normal TCHOL(1.67±0.22) significantly decreased (P<0.05) when compared with the BMI obese (2.33±0.52). In a similar vein, plasma TG of the normal BMI (0.54±0.32) significantly decreased (P<0.05) when compared with the BMI obese TG (1.10±0.38). Other statistical comparisons revealed a non-significant difference.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has shown that an increasing BMI is associated with higher cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.

Annals of Applied Bio-Sciences

Spectrum of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre

Effect of Body Mass Index (BMI) on Concentrations of Serum Lipid Profile and Electrolytes in Students of Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria