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Introduction Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is obstruction of blood flow through the SVC. It is a medical emergency and most often manifests in patients with a malignant disease process within the thorax. A patient with SVCS requires immediate diagnostic evaluation and therapy. Presentation of case A 33-years-old woman presented with complaints of dyspnoea and chest pain. Computer tomography revealed a large mass in the anterior mediastinum. This mass compressed surrounding structures. Stenting was indicated for early symptoms of SVCS. The diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) was confirmed with biopsy. The patient’s stage II HL has been subsequently treated with six cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (ABVD), followed by radiotherapy. Presently she is doing well. Discussion Although lymphomas are a common cause of SVCS but almost always SVCS is caused by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). HL despite its common presentation with mediastinal lymphadenopathy rarely causes SVCS. Conclusion Lymphomas are a common cause of SVCS in young age. HL may present as SVCS. Pathological confirmation of diagnosis should be done before initiating therapy while dealing with a case of SVCS. SVC stenting is effective and has few complications in patients with SVCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the GP6 gene polymorphism in patients with sticky platelet syndrome (SPS) and fetal loss. Design: Genetic association study. Setting: Perinatal center. Patient(s): Twenty-seven patients with SPS, manifested as fetal loss, and 42 control subjects without SPS and no history of fetal loss and thrombosis. Intervention(s): SPS was diagnosed by platelet aggregometry (PACKS-4 aggregometer; Helena Laboratories). Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the GP6 gene were evaluated. Main Outcome Measure(s): Occurrence of SNPs of the GP6 gene in SPS patients versus control subjects. Result(s): We found a higher occurrence of three SNPs of the GP6 gene in SPS patients versus control subjects (rs1671153: 0.204 vs. 0.048, odds ratio [OR] 5.116, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.536–17.03; rs1654419: 0.204 vs. 0.071, OR 3.326, 95% CI 1.149–9.619; rs1613662: 0.204 vs. 0.071, OR 3.326, 95% CI 1.149–9.619). The haplotype analysis showed a significantly higher occurrence of two haplotypes (CTGAG in haplotype 5: 0.185 vs. 0.059, OR 3.568, 95% CI 1.142–11.14; and CGATAG in haplotype 6: 0.204 vs. 0.048, OR 4.961, 95% CI 1.488–16.53). Conclusion(s): Our results, especially the higher occurrence of haplotypes CTGAG and CGATAG in SPS patients, support the idea that GP6 gene polymorphism may be associated with platelet hyperaggregability, a possible cause of fetal loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]