K. K. Hampton

High prevalence of a mutation in the factor V gene within the U.K. population: relationship to activated protein C resistance and familial thrombosis

Summary. Recent findings have indicated the importance of factor V (FV) in causing resistance to activated protein C (APC) in a high proportion of patients with venous thrombosis. This prompted us to investigate whether resistance could be due to defective inactivation of FVa by APC. Consequently, we amplified a 3.2 kb fragment of the FV gene sequence encoding the heavy chain APC cleavage site. DNA analysis showed a guanine to adenine transition at nucleotide 1691 in all affected members of two families with inherited APC resistance associated with thrombosis and confirmed suspected homozygosity in two individuals. The mutation, in heterozygous form, was also found in ˜3.5% of our normal population (n = 144) and correlated with low APC resistance. The high prevalence of this mutation suggests that it may be a major contributory factor in early thrombosis.

The GPIa C807T dimorphism associated with platelet collagen receptor density is not a risk factor for myocardial infarction

The platelet collagen receptor, GPIa/IIa, is an important mediator of platelet adhesion to fibrillar collagens at sites of vascular injury. Recently, a dimorphism at nucleotide 807 of the GPIa cDNA (TTC/TTT in codon 224) was shown to be associated with variation in GPIa/IIa receptor density on the platelet surface. We conducted a case–control study to determine if the 807T allele, linked with increased GPIa/IIa density, contributed to risk of myocardial infarction (MI). DNA from 546 acute MI cases and 507 controls, all aged <75 years, was genotyped for the C807T dimorphism using the TaqManTM system of allelic discrimination. The allelic odds ratio (OR) for MI in the complete cohort was 0.88 (95% CI 0.74–1.05, P = 0.17), indicating that the 807T allele was not associated with an increased risk of MI. There was also no increased risk of MI associated with the homozygous 807TT (P = 0.22) or heterozygous 807CT (P = 0.24) genotypes or for carriers of the 807T allele in any cohort subgroup analysed. We conclude that the GPIa 807T allele is not a risk factor for MI in our population either alone or in combination with other major cardiovascular risk factors.

Mechanisms of platelet aggregation by Streptococcus sanguis, a causative organism in infective endocarditis

Summary. The ability of certain strains of Streptococcus sanguis to aggregate human platelets in vitro may be related to their virulence in the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis. We have studied the mechanisms of aggregation of human platelets by S. sanguis strain NCTC 7863. Platelet aggregation follows incubation of S. sanguis cells with platelet‐rich plasma from normal, healthy adults, after a lag of 7–19 min. Platelet aggregation was accompanied by 5‐hydroxytryptamine release and thromboxane B2 production. Aggregation was prevented by aspirin and by EDTA. Platelets from two patients with Glanzmanns thrombasthenia did not respond to bacteria. Fixed, washed platelets resuspended in normal plasma were not agglutinated by S. sanguis.

Protamine reversal of low molecular weight heparin: clinically effective?

Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are frequently used in the prophylaxis or treatment of venous thrombosis, acute coronary syndromes and peri-operative bridging. Major bleeding occurs in 1–4% depending on dose and underlying condition. Protamine is recommended for reversal but only partially reverses the anti-Xa activity and there are very limited data on clinical effectiveness. We retrospectively studied the effect of emergency reversal of LMWH with protamine in actively bleeding patients and patients requiring emergency surgery in our institution. Eighteen patients were identified through haematology referral/pharmacy records of protamine prescriptions between 1998 and 2009. Case notes were checked for the reversal indication, type/dose of LMWH, dose and clinical response to protamine, timing in relation to the last dose of LMWH and anti-Xa levels before and after protamine. All but one patient received enoxaparin. Fourteen were actively bleeding, three required emergency surgery without active bleeding and one had an accidental overdose without bleeding. The three patients requiring surgery had an uneventful procedure. In 12 of 14 patients with active bleeding, protamine could be evaluated. Bleeding stopped in eight. In the four with continuing bleeding, one had an additional coagulopathy. Protamine only partially affected anti-Xa levels. Protamine may be of use in reversing bleeding associated with LMWH but not in all patients. Anti-Xa levels were useful to assess the amount of anticoagulation before protamine administration but unhelpful in assessing its effect. Better reversal agents and methods to monitor LMWH therapy are required.

Further evidence that activated protein C resistance can be misdiagnosed as inherited functional protein S deficiency.

Summary. A recent report that activated protein C (APC) resistance interferes with functional protein S (PS) assays prompted us to re‐investigate two pedigrees previously diagnosed as having functional PS deficiency. APC resistance was demonstrated in all individuals with apparent functional PS deficiency. The latter diagnosis was shown to be due to the assay being non‐linear, functional protein S becoming normal at higher dilutions. This observation, taken in conjunction with results of in vitro recovery studies with purified PS, leads us to conclude that APC resistance was the primary disorder in both pedigrees. The misdiagnosis of APC resistance as functional PS deficiency can be prevented by performing the PS assay at several dilutions, including concentrations lower than those recommended by PS assay manufacturers. Subjects previously diagnosed as having functional PS deficiency should be re‐investigated for APC resistance.

Haemoperitoneum associated with ovulation in women with bleeding disorders: the case for conservative management and the role of the contraceptive pill

Summary.  Haemoperitoneum secondary to ruptured corpus luteum is a rare complication for women on anticoagulants and with certain congenital bleeding disorders. A surgical approach is often taken, leading to oophorectomy in many cases. We describe three patients presenting with haemoperitoneum in association with factor VII deficiency, factor X deficiency and sitosterolaemia. In two of the patients, recurrent episodes occurred prior to introduction of the oral contraceptive pill. Conservative management with blood product and factor concentrate support was successful in avoiding surgery in three of the five episodes of bleeding. These cases demonstrate that preservation of ovarian function is possible with a conservative approach and recurrent episodes may be prevented by suppression of ovulation.

The management of von Willebrand's disease-associated gastrointestinal angiodysplasia.

There is a recognized association between von Willebrands disease and gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. Most previous publications have been reports of the association itself and there is little published on the management and long-term follow-up of affected patients. We report our experience and follow-up of six patients, and review the previous literature.

Reduced coagulation activation following infusion of a highly purified factor IX concentrate compared to a prothrombin complex concentrate

Summary. We have looked for evidence of coagulation activation in six subjects with haemophilia B by performing a single‐blind active control cross‐over study comparing a recently developed factor IX concentrate with a conventional prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC). Samples were obtained before infusion and at 0·25, 0·5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h for assay of factor IX, prothrombin time, fibrinopeptide A (FPA), prothrombin fragment F1 + 2, D‐dimer, thrombin–antithrombin complexes (TAT) and antithrombin III (ATIII). Following administration of the PCC there was evidence of coagulation activation in five of the six recipients for up to 6 h after the infusion. The factor IX concentrate induced a moderate degree of coagulation activation in one subject. There was no significant difference between the two products in respect of either recovery or half‐life. This study provides further evidence that the new high purity preparations of factor IX concentrates produce significantly less coagulation activation than currently available PCCs. It remains to be established whether this will result in a corresponding reduction in thromboembolic complications in clinical use.

Recombinant VIIa concentrate in the management of bleeding following prothrombin complex concentrate-related myocardial infarction in patients with haemophilia and inhibitors

Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) and, more recently, activated prothrombin complex concentrates (APCCs), are widely used for the treatment of active bleeding in haemophiliacs with inhibitors. Myocardial infarction (MI), associated with the use of these concentrates, is a well‐recognized, but uncommon, complication. We review the 14 previous cases published in the literature and describe two additional patients. MI related to the use of activated and non‐activated PCCs predominantly affects young patients who often have no preceding history of, or risk factors for, MI and tends to be associated with large cumulative doses of concentrate. The most frequent pathological finding is myocardial haemorrhage, with no evidence of coronary artery atheroma or thrombosis. The management of further bleeding in these patients is difficult. We have safely used recombinant factor VIIa to treat bleeding in the immediate and long‐term period following PCC‐related MI.

A cross‐over pharmacokinetic and thrombogenicity study of a prothrombin complex concentrate and a purified factor IX concentrate

Summary. A prospective cross‐over study was carried out on 19 patients with haemophilia B, comparing the pharmacokinetics of a purified factor IX concentrate prepared by metal chelate affinity chromatography (9MC) with a conventional three‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate (9A). The highly purified factor IX concentrate was shown to have a half‐life comparable to the PCC; the in vivo recovery of the purified concentrate was significantly greater than that of the complex (P < 0.01). The 20% change in the value of the International Standard for Factor IX Concentrate, introduced in 1988, might have been expected to lower the recovery values. However, the in vivo recovery for both concentrates was somewhat higher than reported previously, particularly in the older literature.