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Background: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease that can cause bleeding disorders in patients, and presents in acute and chronic forms. The acute form is frequently seen in children, but the chronic form mainly inflicts adults. There are differences and similarities in clinical and laboratory findings of the disease between children and adults. We study these differences and similarities in these two groups of patients with ITP., Methods: In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the clinical and laboratory data of 323 ITP cases within three years. None of our patients had a history of thrombocytopenia. Patients were classified into two groups of children (3 months to 16 years of age) and adults (≥ 16 years). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, and the analysis results were compared between the two age groups., Results: Overall, the disease prevalence was higher in women than men, but the prevalence of childhood ITP was higher in males than females. The prevalence of initial symptoms including petechiae, purpura and ecchymosis was 60.5% and 61%, respectively in all patients, but severe bleeding rarely occurred in patients (28.8%). 30.5% of patients had a history of infection before developing ITP, and the children had a higher frequency of infection (80.8%). Before treatment, the mean platelet count in adults and children was 33000/μL and 35000/μL, respectively., Conclusion: Comparison of data in children and adults with ITP indicated similarities and differences in clinical and laboratory findings between the two groups with differences in prevalence, bleeding symptoms, initial platelet count and infection history.

Background: Hemoglobinopathy and thalassemia are prevalent genetic disorders throughout the world. Beta thalassemia is one of these disorders with high prevalence in Iran, especially in Khuzestan province. In this study, the rate of different mutations in β-globin gene for prenatal diagnosis in fetal samples was evaluated., Materials and Methods: In this experimental pilot study, 316 fetal samples (chorionic villus or amniotic fluid) suspicious to hemoglobin disorders were enrolled. Afterwards, DNA was extracted and PCR and DNA sequencing were used for evaluation of different mutations in β-globin gene., Results: Amongst 316 samples evaluated for prenatal diagnosis, 180 cases (56.8%) were carrying at least one mutated gene of β-thalassemia. In addition, results showed that CD 36-37 (- T) and IVS II-1 (G > A) polymorphisms are the most prevalent polymorphisms of β-thalassemia in Ahvaz city with 13.9% and 10.1% rates, respectively., Conclusion: Using molecular tests for prenatal diagnosis is considered an efficient approach for reducing the birth of children with hemoglobinopathy and identification of prevalent mutations in each region.

Objective: The use of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) inducer drugs is considered as a novel approach in treatment of β-hemoglobinopathies, especially β- thalassemia and sickle cell disease. HbF inducers including hydroxyurea, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor agents such as sodium butyrate, azacitidine, decitabine and new immunomodulator drugs like pomalidomide, lenalidomide and thalidomide can reduce α-globin chain production in erythroid progenitors and improve α: β chain imbalance, the most crucial complication of β-thalassemia., Materials and Methods: In this article, we reviewed more than 40 articles published from 1979 to 2012 in the field of fetal hemoglobin augmentation., Results: Recent studies suggest the synergistic effect of drug combinations in efficient induction of fetal hemoglobin and gene over-expression., Conclusion: It seems that drugs which act with different molecular and epigenetic mechanisms have proper synergistic effects in fetal hemoglobin induction and gene over-expression.