American Journal of Hematology 

About: American Journal of Hematology is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Leukemia & Medicine. It has an ISSN identifier of 0361-8609. Over the lifetime, 10711 publications have been published receiving 258525 citations. The journal is also known as: AJH.

Hematological findings and complications of COVID-19.

Abstract: COVID-19 is a systemic infection with a significant impact on the hematopoietic system and hemostasis. Lymphopenia may be considered as a cardinal laboratory finding, with prognostic potential. Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and peak platelet/lymphocyte ratio may also have prognostic value in determining severe cases. During the disease course, longitudinal evaluation of lymphocyte count dynamics and inflammatory indices, including LDH, CRP and IL-6 may help to identify cases with dismal prognosis and prompt intervention in order to improve outcomes. Biomarkers, such high serum procalcitonin and ferritin have also emerged as poor prognostic factors. Furthermore, blood hypercoagulability is common among hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Elevated D-Dimer levels are consistently reported, whereas their gradual increase during disease course is particularly associated with disease worsening. Other coagulation abnormalities such as PT and aPTT prolongation, fibrin degradation products increase, with severe thrombocytopenia lead to life-threatening disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), which necessitates continuous vigilance and prompt intervention. So, COVID-19 infected patients, whether hospitalized or ambulatory, are at high risk for venous thromboembolism, and an early and prolonged pharmacological thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin is highly recommended. Last but not least, the need for assuring blood donations during the pandemic is also highlighted.

Definition of organ involvement and treatment response in immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL): A consensus opinion from the 10th International Symposium on Amyloid and Amyloidosis

Abstract: We undertook this study to develop uniformly accepted criteria for the definition of organ involvement and response for patients on treatment protocols for immunoglobulin light-chain amyloidosis (AL). A consensus panel was convened comprising 13 specialists actively involved in the treatment of patients with amyloidosis. Institutional criteria were submitted from each, and a consensus was developed defining each organ involved and the criteria for response. Specific criteria have been developed with agreed on definitions of organ and hematologic response as a result of discussions at the 10th International Symposium on Amyloid and Amyloidosis held in Tours, France, April 2004. These criteria now form the working definition of involvement and response for the purposes of future data collection and reporting. We report criteria that centers can now use to define organ involvement and uniform response criteria for reporting outcomes in patients with light-chain AL.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Abstract: Red blood cell (RBC) autoantibodies are a relatively uncommon cause of anemia. However, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) must be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemolytic anemias, especially if the patient has a concomitant lymphoproliferative disorder, autoimmune disease, or viral or mycoplasmal infection. Classifications of AIHA include warm AIHA, cold agglutinin syndrome, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, mixed-type AIHA, and drug-induced AIHA. Characteristics of the autoantibodies are responsible for the various clinical entities. As a result, diagnosis is based on the clinical presentation and a serologic work-up. For each classification of AIHA, this review discusses the demographics, etiology, clinical presentation, laboratory evaluation, and treatment options.

Hematologic parameters in patients with COVID-19 infection.

Abstract: To the Editor: A cluster of unexplained pneumonia cases was reported by the Peopleʼs Republic of China to the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31 December, 2019. The etiology for this outbreak was a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was responsible for the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Singapore confirmed its first imported case on 23 January 2020 and local transmission was detected on 4 February, 2020. As of 28 February, 2020, Singapore had 96 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection. SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed by real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), performed on respiratory samples of these patients. A majority of 69 out of these 96 patients were treated at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). We herein present a detailed analysis of the hematological parameters of the COVID-19 patients at the NCID (see Table 1). Of the 69 patients that had been admitted to the NCID, 26 patients were still hospitalized, and 43 patients had been discharged as of 28 February 2020. Also, 67 patients had at least one complete blood count (CBC) performed during inpatient stay; 65 patients had CBC performed on day of admission. We analyzed the hematological indices of all COVID-19 infected patients from day 1 of admission until 28 February 2020. We obtained data from the Laboratory Information System (LIS) exclusively which provided information on the age, gender, ethnicity and location of each patient. We divided the patients into two groups; ICU and non-ICU patients. Additionally, flow cytometry on lymphocyte subsets was performed from 24 to 28 February 2020, on a subgroup of nine COVID-19 patients; five ICU patients and four non-ICU patients (with six normal individual blood samples as controls). Immunophenotyping was performed using a Becton Dickinson FACSCanto II Flow analyzer. Most patients were of Chinese ethnicity (89.5%), while the minority were ofMalay (4.5%), Indian (1.5%) and other ethnicities (4.5%). Just 9 out of the 67 (13.4%) patients required ICU care. Notably, ICU patients were about a decade older than the non-ICU patients; the median age of ICU patients was 54 years old while the median age of non-ICU patients was 42 years old (P = .02). On admission, leukopenia was observed in 19 patients (29.2%) with only one patient presenting with severe leukopenia (WBC < 2 × 10/L). Lymphopenia featured in 24 patients (36.9%) with 19 having moderate lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count [ALC] 0.5-1 × 10/L), and five with severe lymphopenia (ALC < 0.5 × 10/L). Most patients had normal platelet counts, with 13 patients (20.0%) having mild thrombocytopenia (platelet count 100-150 × 10/L). Peripheral blood film review showed that a higher number of patients (69%) who were lymphopenic had the presence of a few reactive lymphocytes, of which a subset appeared lymphoplasmacytoid. This contrasts with the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 where reactive lymphocytes were not observed in a study on Haematologic parameters in SARS in Singapore and only in 15.2% of cases in a similar Hong Kong study. Our analysis revealed that on admission, most patients had a normal CBC (normal Hb, WBC and platelet count) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). And, no patient presented with moderate or severe thrombocytopenia that is frequently observed in other viral illnesses such as dengue fever which is endemic in our region. However, 28% of all patients presented with lymphopenia (ALC < 1 × 10/L). This number is significantly smaller compared to 63% of patients in Wuhan, China, and 42% of patients outside of Wuhan who presented with lymphopenia. This disparity in numbers may in part be reflective of the extent of epidemiological data availablewithin the surveillance pyramid in those regions. Those requiring ICU care had a lower ALC and higher LDH. These were findings also reported by Huang et al on the characteristics of COVID-19 patients inWuhan, China. Lymphopenia has beenwell described in retrospective analysis of patients in Hong Kong and Singapore afflicted with SARS-CoV in 2003, and was associated with adverse outcomes and ICU stay. Lymphopenia featured prominently in our COVID-19 ICU groupwith amedian nadir ALC of 0.4× 10/L, compared to 1.2 × 10/L in the non-ICU group. Monitoring of such hematologic parameters may help to identify patients whomay need ICU care. An ALC approaching severe lymphopenia of <0.6 × 10/L may possibly be considered as one of the indicators for early admission for supportive care in the ICU. Between the ICU (n = 9) and non-ICU (n = 58) patients, using Fisherʼs exact tests, we found that admission ALC and LDH stood out as discriminating laboratory indices with a P value of <.001 and .005 respectively. The ICU patients in general presented with more profound lymphopenia with seven out of nine being lymphopenic; four of whom had severe lymphopenia. Note, LDH was performed for 4 out of the 9 ICU patients on admission, and all four cases had a raised LDH with a median value of 1684 U/L (reference range 270-550 U/L). Comparatively non-ICU patients tend to present with a normal LDH, median value 401 U/L; with only five out of 26 non-ICU patients presenting with a Received: 2 March 2020 Revised: 3 March 2020 Accepted: 3 March 2020

TEG and ROTEM: Technology and clinical applications

Abstract: Initially described in 1948 by Hertert thromboelastography (TEG) provides a real-time assessment of viscoelastic clot strength in whole blood. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) evolved from TEG technology and both devices generate output by transducing changes in the viscoelastic strength of a small sample of clotting blood (300 µl) to which a constant rotational force is applied. These point of care devices allow visual assessment of blood coagulation from clot formation, through propagation, and stabilization, until clot dissolution. Computer analysis of the output allows sophisticated clot formation/dissolution kinetics and clot strength data to be generated. Activation of clot formation can be initiated with both intrinsic (kaolin, ellagic acid) and extrinsic (tissue factor) activators. In addition, the independent contributions of platelets and fibrinogen to final clot strength can be assessed using added platelet inhibitors (abciximab and cytochalasin D). Increasingly, ROTEM and TEG analysis is being incorporated in vertical algorithms to diagnose and treat bleeding in high-risk populations such as those undergoing cardiac surgery or suffering from blunt trauma. Some evidence suggests these algorithms might reduce transfusions, but further study is needed to assess patient outcomes.