American journal of hematology
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Immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are clinical conditions associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These well-defined clinical syndromes have in common several properties: (1) their pathogenesis is immune mediated, specifically by autoantibodies; (2) thrombocytopenia is a hallmark in these four conditions; (3) except for the case of ITP, platelet and endothelial cell activation occurs in TTP, HIT, and APS, resulting in a prothrombotic state and an increased risk of thrombosis. Although these four immune-mediated syndromes are well-defined diseases, several case reports and studies have documented the association of two diseases in the same patient, illustrating the concept of the kaleidoscope of autoimmunity.
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While anemia is a significant risk factor for poor outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF), it is not in defined guidelines for HF assessment. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is a marker for diagnosis and management of patients with HF. We determined the incidence of anemia in patients with HF and the relationship between BNP and hemoglobin (Hgb) levels in patients with and without HF. ⋯ The presence of anemia is associated with worsening HF at ED presentation. For males without HF and diastolic HF patients of both genders, a low Hgb may be a confounding variable toward increasing BNP. Among systolic HF patients, the presence of a low hemoglobin concentration is not a factor in the interpretation of BNP results.