Haematology (i.e., erythrocyte count, haemoglobin (HB), mean and packed cell volumes, mean cell HB concentration, mean cell HB, thrombocytes, leucocytes (differential) and reticulocytes) was determined by ADVIA 120 haematology analyser (Siemens, Saint-Denis, France). Leukocyte differential analysis (with cell morphology) was assessed in blood smears stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa. Coagulation parameters (i.e., prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen) were measured with an ACL300 coagulation analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Instrumentation Laboratory, France). Complete blood biochemistry was assessed by the ADVIA 1650 Chemistry System (Siemens) using whole blood.