Search

New Zealand has a population of 4 million people comprising four main ethnic groups: Caucasian (72.9%), New Zealand Maori (14.7%), New Zealand Pacific Islands people (5.6%), and Asians (6.3%). We examined 10 years of data (1993-2002) from the New Zealand Cancer Registry to determine if there are ethnic differences in leukemia incidence in New Zealand, and we relate this to availability of stem-cell transplantation. We found that New Zealand Asians have a generally lower incidence of all leukemias investigated. New Zealand Maori have an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia (RR 1.5 in the age group 25-49 and RR 1.31 in the age group 50-74), relative to New Zealand Caucasians. New Zealand Pacific Islanders have an increased risk of chronic myeloid leukemia (RR 2.13 in the age group 25-49 and RR 1.52 in the age group 50-74). Stem-cell transplantation is a standard curative treatment for ages 25-49, and current opinion is extending the acceptable age up to age 60, in certain cases. We conclude that, among New Zealand Maori and New Zealand Pacific Islanders, there is an increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia in age groups suitable for stem-cell transplantation. However, both of these ethnic groups have previously been shown to have a reduced chance of finding a 6/6-matched unrelated donor on international registries. This leads to disproportionate provision of transplantation health care among the ethnic groups in New Zealand.

The first reported case of clinically significant congenital Factor VII deficiency in association with the 13q deletion syndrome is presented. It illustrates the importance of knowledge of the specific genes involved in gross deletion syndromes and adds to the current clinical experience of this rare disease., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Serum and red blood cell folate levels and serum B12 concentration were determined by radioassay in 20 hyperthyroid patients and compared with values obtained when the same patients had been euthyroid for at least 4 months. In hyperthyroidism, the levels of serum and red blood cell folate were significantly (P less than .01) higher than when euthyroidism was achieved. There was no significant change in serum B12 concentration. Declines in serum and red blood cell folate levels between hyperthyroidism and euthyroidism occurred in 15 and 16 of the 20 patients, respectively. Although the explanation for the relative elevations of serum and red blood cell folate levels in hyperthyroid patients is unclear at present, our findings do not support the view that hyperthyroidism in man is associated with depletion of folate stores or subclinical deficiency of the vitamin.

In 28 unselected patients with hyperthyroidism, platelet count, platelet hematocrit, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width were measured at the time of presentation and again when the patients were euthyroid. On return to the euthyroid state, there were highly significant falls in the mean values of the mean platelet volume (16% decline, P less than 0.001) and the platelet hematocrit (16% decline, P less than 0.001) and a slight but highly significant increase in the mean value of the platelet distribution width (2% increase, P less than 0.01). A decline in mean platelet volume was observed in 24 of 28 patients (86%); three patients showed no change. There was no significant change in the mean value of the platelet count. The observed effects of thyrotoxicosis on platelets appeared to be largely independent of the well-known effects on erythrocytes and white blood cells. An increase in mean platelet volume is a regular feature of hyperthyroidism that has not previously been described.