Latest Articles from Folia Medica Latest 3 Articles from Folia Medica https://foliamedica.bg/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 22:00:12 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://foliamedica.bg/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Folia Medica https://foliamedica.bg/ Reduction of Liver Iron Load in Adult Patients with β-Thalassemia Major Treated with Modern Chelation Modalities https://foliamedica.bg/article/39518/ Folia Medica 62(2): 265-270

DOI: 10.3897/folmed.62.e39518

Authors: Pencho G. Georgiev, Katya G. Sapunarova, Veselina S. Goranova-Marinova, Stefan E. Goranov

Abstract: Background: Management of beta-thalassemia major (TM) requires life-long hemotransfusions leading to iron overload. Iron elimination is enhanced by the use of modern chelators. Aim: To assess the effect of modern chelation therapy by dynamics of serum ferritin concentration and liver MRI T2*.Patients and methods: Forty-six patients with TM (male to female ratio =1:1, mean age 33.2±10.9 years) were prospectively studied between 2011 and 2014. Twenty-one patients (45.7%) were treated with deferasirox, 17 (37%) – with deferiprone, and 8 (17.3%) – with deferiprone in combination with deferoxamine. Ferritin was measured by ELISA. MRI T2* was assessed by Siemens Magnetom Avanto 1.5T. The patients were allocated into 3 groups based on their initial ferritin level and liver MRI T2*. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v. 18 for Windows. Data were analysed by descriptive analysis, analysis of variance and correlative analysis, means were compared using t-test and one-way ANOVA.Results: In 2011, 9 (19.5%) patients had normal liver MRI T2*; in 2014 they were 17 (37%). The patients with mild grade liver siderosis were 12 (26%) in 2011, and in 2014 they were 14 (30.4%). In 2011, the patients with moderate liver siderosis were 14 (30.4%), and in 2014 – 12 (26.0%). Eleven patients (23.9%) had severe liver siderosis in 2011 and only two patients (4.0%) were diagnosed with the condition in 2014.Conclusion: A reduction of iron overload was found in all studied groups. This positive effect is attributed to the use of modern chelators and the ease of access to accurate monitoring.

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Original Article Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:28:00 +0300
Genetic Polymorphisms Implicated in Major Pregnancy Complications: a Review https://foliamedica.bg/article/47831/ Folia Medica 62(2): 230-237

DOI: 10.3897/folmed.62.e47831

Authors: Georgios Dryllis, Panagiota Liakou, Marianna Politou

Abstract: Pregnancy short- or long-term complications may involve the mother’s health, the fetus’s health, or both. A systematic literature review was performed, including studies up to October 2018 from Medline (PubMed), Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The following inclusion criteria were applied: studies published until 2018 concerning the genetic background of pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, pregnancy loss, endometrial death, placental abruption, premature labor, and intrauterine growth retardation which may render pregnancy a high risk condition.We identified 164 articles that met the inclusion criteria and reviewed and analyzed them. The results so far are contradictory and the pathogenicity of these pregnancy complications remains unclear. For most of the polymorphisms studied so far, data refer to small studies size but research is on-going.The identification of genetic polymorphisms with strong correlations with certain pregnancy complications could provide us with useful tools which could be incorporated in diagnostic algorithms that could facilitate early detection and treatment of major pregnancy complications.

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Review Tue, 30 Jun 2020 19:28:00 +0300
Fatal Chemotherapy-induced Combined Infection in a Hodgkin’s Disease Patient: a Case Report https://foliamedica.bg/article/47811/ Folia Medica 61(4): 620-623

DOI: 10.3897/folmed.61.e47811

Authors: Yordan I. Kalchev, Gergana B. Lengerova, Uswah Asif, Hasan A. Burnusuzov, Marianna A. Murdjeva

Abstract: Multimodal therapy, used for the treatment of patients with Hodgkin’s disease (HD), makes them prone to life-threatening infections, attributed mainly to febrile neutropenia. Herein, we present a case report of fatal combined bacterial and viral infection in a 49-year-old female patient, subject to polychemotherapy for HD. Rapid microbiological diagnosis performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction elucidated the causes of the infection within hours. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in both the cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples. Nasopharyngeal swabs returned positive for two swine-derived strains of influenza A virus. We aimed to emphasize the importance of these pathogens and draw attention to their association in the aetiology of infections among patients receiving chemotherapy. In conclusion, better surveillance is needed to improve the early diagnosis of infectious complications in these patients.

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Case Report Tue, 31 Dec 2019 10:00:19 +0200