Introduction: VonWillebrand disease (VWD) is considered the most common autosomal inherited bleeding disorder.Laboratory testing for diagnosis or exclusion of VWD is based on a complex of different diagnostic assays.In the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected VWD, the von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimer assay is one of the most important indicators for VWF quality.This study aims to assess the VWF multimers profile in patients with bleeding tendency and increase knowledge and awareness of VWD laboratory diagnosis in Estonia.Methods: This retrospective study investigated the laboratory results of 131 individuals who were selected from the laboratory information system based on the request of VWF tests profile and 31 healthy volunteers for comparison.Results: Control group, non-VWD patients and patients suspected with VWD type 2N or mild haemophilia A demonstrated normal VWF multimer (VWF:MM) pattern.Patients with low VWF and suspected with VWD type 1 also showed normal VWF:MM distribution with reduced intensity.All cases suspected with VWD type 2A or 2M had a decrease of high molecular weight multimers (HMWM); one of them showed a loss of intermediate molecular weight multimers and HMWM and low VWF activity to antigen ratio (<0.7).Furthermore, multimers were undetectable in patients suspected with VWD type 3 or severe type 1. Conclusions: This is the first report of VWD laboratory evaluation in Estonia to provide insight into the potential clinical significance of using VWF: MM.The interpretation of VWF multimers should be necessarily complemented by the quantification of fractions of multimers by densitometry additional to visual gel's examination.

Objectives Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is a rare and frequently underdiagnosed bleeding disorder with an unknown prevalence. The diagnosis of AVWS is made based on laboratory investigations and the presence of clinical symptoms. Evaluation and management of affected patients are complex due to the need for multiple laboratory assays. Materials and Methods Here, we describe the clinical and laboratory data of seven patients with a diagnosis of AVWS. All patients met the criteria for AVWS based on laboratory findings, bleeding symptoms, and the absence of any previous history of a bleeding disorder. Results In all cases, the laboratory findings, lack of bleeding anamnesis, and family history suggested the presence of AVWS. Von Willebrand factor multimeric analysis showed decreased high-molecular weight (HMW) multimers in six cases. Patients with lower HMW multimers experienced more severe bleeding complications. Conclusions The diagnosis of AVWS is complex and requires extensive laboratory evaluation. Interdisciplinary collaboration and complex laboratory evaluations are of paramount importance for the early recognition of AVWS and optimal AVWS diagnosis as well as successful clinical management.

Estonia regained independence in 1991 after five decades of occupation by the Soviet Union. The present population-based survey was carried out over five consecutive 5-year study periods (1982–2006) on the incidence and survival of de novo acute leukemia patients aged ≥65 years at diagnosis in Estonia and in a well-defined area in western Sweden. During the study period of retrospective work (1982–1996), the first 10 years were carried out while Estonia was still under the mentorship of the Soviet Union. Over these years, Estonian hematologists did not have access to therapeutic measures readily available to Swedish hematologists, and the results for survival for western Swedish patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) far exceeded those of their Estonian counterparts. However, the results for acute lymphoblastic leukemia were equally dismal in the two countries. Subsequent prospective population-based studies were carried out during the years 1997–2006. A gradual improvement as to long-term relative survival of the Estonian AML patients was observed. When studying 2002–2006, no difference as regards relative survival at 5 years was anymore present between the two countries. Over the first 20 years of our population-based studies, it was repeatedly observed that the age-standardized incidence rate particularly for de novo AML was considerably higher for the western Swedish as compared to the Estonian cohorts. During the last 5-year study period (2002–2006), no such difference between the two countries was present, indicating that some true changes in the reporting procedure in Estonia had occurred.

Background: In a recent retrospective study, we investigated the incidence and survival of de novo acute leukemia (AL) patients aged 16–64 years over three 5-year periods (1982–1996) in Estonia and in the Western Swedish Health Care Region. The incidence rates were similar in the two countries, but the survival data were highly different. Thus, relative survival at 5 years for de novo AL patients in Estonia was virtually negligible, whereas the corresponding figures for the Swedish patients increased from 20.3 to 38.9% during the study period. Aim: To prospectively compare the results for incidence and outcome of de novo AL between the two countries during 1997–2001. Results: Incidence rates for de novo AL were lower in Estonia than in western Sweden but not significantly so. However, the survival for de novo AL patients in Estonia had improved considerably, with the relative survival at 5 years being 16.4%; such improvement was particularly seen in acute myeloid leukemia patients. For the Swedish patients, no change in survival was recorded. Conclusion: In Estonia, a remarkable improvement in outcome for young de novo AL patients was seen after 1996. Nevertheless, relative survival for the Estonian patients had still not reached the levels found in the Swedish cohort.

Background: In a recently published retrospective population-based study over three 5-year periods (1982-1996) we investigated the outcome for de novo acute leukemia (AL) patients aged >= 65 years at diagnosis in Estonia (a country that had been occupied by the Soviet Union over 5 decades) and in the so-called Western Swedish Health Care Region. The age-standardized yearly incidence rates regarding the total number of de novo AL was 5.3/100000 inhabitant for Estonia and 8.0 for Sweden, this difference being statistically significant merely as regards acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The relative survival for the total cohort of de novo AL as well as for de novo AML was significantly longer (p < 0.001) for Swedish as compared to Estonian patients. Methods: In view of the miserable outcome for the Estonian patients we decided to prospectively compare the results for incidence and outcome of de novo AL between the two countries. Results: The present report covers the first 5-year period comprising 1997-2001 and deals only with patients aged >= 65 years at diagnosis. The age-adjusted annual incidence rates for de nova AML were lower in Estonia (6.4/100 000) than in Sweden (9.2/100 000) but not significantly so. The present results also show that the outcome for the Estonian AML patients had improved considerably over the study period: thus, at no time point, i.e., at 1, 3 and 5 years did relative survival between the two countries differ significantly. Conclusion: Yet, as compared to the Swedish cohort relative survival for the Estonian patients did still not reach an acceptable level. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objectives.  To compare the incidence and survival of acute de novo leukaemias with particular reference to political/socio‐economic and environmental factors in two neighbouring countries over the three 5‐year periods (1982–1996).

In the present work the incidence and survival of acute de novo leukaemias in two neighbouring countries, were studied retrospectively over three 5-year periods, 1982-1996. The aim was to compare the above variables, particularly with respect to political/socio-economic and environmental factors, in a well defined area of Sweden, the so-called Western Swedish Health Care Region, with Estonia. Population-wise the Western Swedish Region and Estonia are very similar; area-wise they are also well comparable. The present report covers only patients diagnosed between the ages of 16-64 years. The number of acute de novo leukaemias in the two regions was quite similar (Western Sweden n = 282 and Estonia n = 237). The age standardized incidence rate regarding total acute de novo leukaemias was slightly lower in Estonia than in Western Sweden (1.49/100,000 inhabitants/year for Estonia and 1.76 for Sweden, respectively), the difference being not statistically significant. However, the survival data for the two countries were highly different (P < 0.001). Thus, the relative survival for the total group of patients aged 16-64 years in Estonia at 1 year was 20.7% and at 5 years 3.6%, respectively. The corresponding figures for the Swedish patients were considerably higher, 65.2 and 29.4%, respectively. Further, the 5 year survival significantly (P < 0.05) increased for the Swedish patients over the 3 consecutive 5-year periods. No such improvement was recorded for the Estonian patients.