To determine the prevalence of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in Oklahoma regardless of age, clinical characteristics, insurance status, and source of health care. Patients with ITP were identified by the administrative code ICD‐9‐CM 287.3 in Oklahoma hematologists' offices for a 2‐year period, 2003–2004. Prevalence was estimated separately for children (<16 years old) and adults because of their distinct clinical characteristics. Oklahoma census data for 2000 was used as the denominator. Eighty‐seven (94%) of 93 eligible Oklahoma hematologists participated; 620 patients with ITP were identified. The average annual prevalences were as follows: 8.1 (95% CI: 6.7–9.5) per 100,000 children, 12.1 (95% CI: 11.1–13.0) per 100,000 adults, and 11.2 (95% CI: 10.4–12.0) per 100,000 population. Among children and adults less than age 70 years, the prevalence was greater among women. Among adults aged 70 years and older, the prevalence was greater among men. The highest prevalence of ITP was among men age 80 years and older. These data document for the first time the prevalence of ITP regardless of age, clinical characteristics, insurance status, and source of health care. The methodology developed for this prevalence analysis may be adaptable for epidemiologic studies of other uncommon disorders which lack specific diagnostic criteria and are treated primarily by medical specialists. Am. J. Hematol. 2012.

The objective of this study was to determine performance characteristics of Ferriman Gallwey self-scoring in women with the polycystic ovary syndrome. A simultaneous Ferriman Gallwey map scoring design was used. The study was performed at the General Clinical Research Center in a university medical center. Twenty-one hirsute patients with the polycystic ovary syndrome were studied. Interventions included masked patient, physician, and research nurse simultaneous and independent Ferriman Gallwey map scoring. The main outcome measures were modified Ferriman Gallwey map scores. Agreement analysis demonstrated that patient self scores, physician scores, and research nurse scores were quite discrepant. The modified Ferriman Gallwey Map scoring system has too much variation to be clinically useful.

To investigate the epidemiologic and pathogenetic significance of placental features and neonatal outcome in a high-risk population. One pathologist examined 1252 placentas from clinically selected at-risk singleton pregnancies. Placental pathology features were analyzed relative to gestational age and status of the newborn, including fetal growth restriction (FGR), low 1-minute Apgar score, infection, liver disorder, anomalies, and death in the immediate postnatal period. The most frequent placental pathologic features were ischemic change, meconium staining, and chorioamnionitis. Only 8% of placentas were considered normal. The number of features per placenta increased with gestational age. Among preterm infants, chorioamnionitis occurred most frequently with low 1-minute Apgar score (40%), clinically apparent infection (43%), liver disorder (43%), and anomalies (42%), compared with healthy newborns (15%). Chorioamnionitis at term was most frequent among infants with low 1-minute Apgar score (26%), infection (30%), and liver disorder (23%), compared with healthy newborns (16%). Meconium and ischemic changes were most frequent in placentas from healthy newborns, compared with affected newborns, regardless of gestational age. Multivariable analyses revealed an independent association between chorioamnionitis and low 1-minute Apgar score (P < .05), and both chorioamnionitis and villitis were associated with newborn infection (P < .05). The frequency of many major pathologic placental features, especially ischemic changes and meconium, in the absence of immediately detectable abnormality is relatively high. Thus, continued follow-up is needed to determine their long-term clinical significance. In addition, associations of ischemic changes and infarction with FGR in term infants suggest that need for comprehensive investigations of the effects of histopathologically apparent low placental blood flow.