Clinical medicine (London, England)
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The autoimmune cytopenias are a group of disorders resulting primarily from autoantibody-mediated destruction of blood cells, with variable clinical sequelae depending on the severity and lineage affected. Disease presentation ranges from an asymptomatic finding on a routine full blood count to an acutely unwell patient suffering the clinical consequences of severe anaemia, neutropenia or thrombocytopenia. ⋯ Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a distinct, rare but potentially life-threatening entity that classically but not invariably presents with a pentad of acute onset haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neurological symptoms, renal impairment and fevers. Autoimmune cytopenias have formed a recognised diagnostic entity for over 150 years yet continue to present a challenge in medical practice due to heterogeneity in clinical presentation and triggering factors, an incomplete understanding of underlying pathophysiology and a lack of evidence-based therapeutic approaches.
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Cellular therapy is a key tool to treat haematological malignancies. Over 40,000 allogeneic and autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) are performed annually across Europe.1 Since 2017, a new T cell therapy, chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cells have been licensed outside clinical trials. ⋯ Patients frequently require admission to intensive care, and management from a number of medical specialties. This exciting and powerful new therapy requires the formation of new multispecialty medical teams for safe delivery and to successfully manage the resultant complications.
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In November 2017, the deferral on blood donations from high-risk groups in Great Britain was changed to 3 months from last at-risk sexual contact following recommendations from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs. This represented a reduction from 12 months for men who have sex with men, and from a lifetime ban for sex workers. ⋯ Clearly it is vital that the welfare of blood transfusion recipients is prioritised and they are not exposed to unacceptable risks. However, with the increasingly sophisticated technology used to screen blood, it can be argued that the evidence shows that the reduction in deferral does not go far enough.
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Case Reports
A case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) presenting with acute urinary retention and T6 sensory level.
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated demyelinating disease. Early recognition of this disease is crucial as it can progress to life-threatening conditions such as respiratory failure or autonomic dysfunction. ⋯ Sensory level and bladder dysfunction are more suggestive of acute myelopathy. We report a case of GBS presenting with acute urinary retention and T6 sensory level, which was successfully treated with plasma exchange.