Ophira Salomon

Single and Combined Prothrombotic Factors in Patients With Idiopathic Venous Thromboembolism: Prevalence and Risk Assessment

The inherited thrombophilias--deficiencies of protein C, protein S, and antithrombin III--and the prothrombotic polymorphisms factor V G1691A and factor II G20210A predispose patients toward venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of single and combined prothrombotic factors in patients with idiopathic VTE and to estimate the associated risks. The study group consisted of 162 patients referred for work-up of thrombophilia after documented VTE. The controls were 336 consecutively admitted patients. In all subjects factor V G1691A, factor II G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T were analyzed by specific polymerase chain reactions and restriction enzymes. Activities of antithrombin III and protein C, free protein S antigen, and lupus anticoagulant were determined in a subset of 109 patients who were not receiving oral anticoagulants. The prevalences of heterozygotes and homozygotes for factor V G1691A and factor II G20210A among patients and controls were 40.1% versus 3.9% and 18.5% versus 5.4%, respectively (P=0.0001). The prevalence of homozygotes for MTHFR C677T in patients was 22.8% and in controls, 14.3% (P=0.025). Heterozygous and homozygous factor V G1691A, factor II G20210A, and homozygous MTHFR C677T were found to be independent risk factors for VTE, with odds ratios of 16.3, 3.6, and 2.1, respectively. Two or more polymorphisms were detected in 27 of 162 patients (16.7%) and in 3 of 336 controls (0.9%). Logistic regression analysis disclosed odds ratios of 58.6 (confidence interval [CI], 22.1 to 155.2) for joint occurrence of factor V and factor II polymorphisms, of 35.0 (CI, 14.5 to 84.7) for factor V and MTHFR polymorphisms, and of 7.7 (CI, 3.0 to 19.6) for factor II and MTHFR polymorphisms. Among 109 patients in whom a complete thrombophilic work-up was performed, 74% had at least 1 underlying defect. These data indicate that in most patients referred for evaluation of thrombophilia due to idiopathic VTE, 1 or more underlying genetic predispositions were discernible. The presence of >1 of the prothrombotic polymorphisms was associated with a substantial risk of VTE.

Reduced incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with severe factor XI deficiency.

Inherited disorders of hemostasis are natural models for investigating mechanisms of thrombosis and development of antithrombotic therapy. Because mice with total factor XI deficiency are protected against ischemic stroke and do not manifest excessive bleeding, we investigated the incidence of ischemic stroke in patients with severe inherited factor XI deficiency. Incidence of ischemic stroke in 115 patients aged 45 years or more with severe factor XI deficiency (activity less than 15 U/dL) was compared with incidence in the Israeli population as estimated from a stroke survey of 1528 patients. Adjustment for major risk factors of stroke (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, current smoking) was based on comparison of their prevalence in the stroke survey to an Israeli health survey of 9509 subjects. Incidence of myocardial infarction in the factor XI cohort was also recorded. After adjustment for the 4 major risk factors of ischemic stroke, the expected incidence of ischemic stroke was 8.56 compared with one observed (P = .003). The reduced 1:115 incidence of ischemic stroke contrasted with a 19:115 incidence of myocardial infarction, similar to the expected incidence. Thus, severe factor XI deficiency probably is protective against ischemic stroke but not against acute myocardial infarction.

The Association of Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin Gene Mutation and Placenta-Mediated Pregnancy Complications: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Marc Rodger and colleagues report the results of their systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies that estimated the association of maternal factor V Leiden and prothrombin gene mutation carrier status and placenta-mediated pregnancy complications.

Analysis of prothrombotic and vascular risk factors in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy

OBJECTIVE To determine whether genetic or acquired thrombophilias and other risk factors are associated with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-one patients with NAION diagnosed between 1984 and 1997. Ninety consecutive patients who visited the Eye Institute made up the control group. INTERVENTION Protein C, protein S, antithrombin III, lupus anticoagulant, and three recently described prothrombotic polymorphisms (i.e., factor V G1691A, factor II G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase [MTHFR] C677T) were analyzed. In addition, risk factors for arteriosclerotic vascular disease were assessed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Parameters of thrombophilia. RESULTS None of the thrombophilic markers (genetic and acquired) constituted a significant risk factor for NAION. Ischemic heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus were discerned as risk factors for NAION with odds ratios of 2.9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-6.4), 2.6 (95% CI, 1.2-5.5), and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.1-4.8), respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that ischemic heart disease and hypercholesterolemia exerted an additive risk for NAION with a combined odds ratio of 4.5 (95% CI, 1.4-14.5). However, none of these risk factors statistically predicted second eye involvement. CONCLUSION NAION was not found to be associated with thrombophilic risk factors, yet it was related to ischemic heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus.

Rare bleeding disorders

Summary.  Deficiencies of coagulation factors other than factor VIII and factor IX (afibrinogenemia, FII, FV, FV+FVIII, FVII, FX, FXI, FXIII) that cause bleeding disorders (RBDs) are inherited as autosomal recessive traits and are rare, with prevalences in the general population varying between 1 in 500.000 and 1 in 2 million for the homozygous forms. As a consequence of the rarity of these deficiencies, the type and severity of bleeding symptoms, the underlying molecular defects, and the actual management of bleeding episodes are not as well established as for hemophilia A and B. The study of the genetic basis of these disorders could represent an important tool for prevention through prenatal diagnosis. Treatment of patients with RBDs during bleeding episodes or surgery is a challenge because of the lack of experience and the paucity of data. For some deficiency factor concentrates are still non available and severe complications can occur. These complications can be minimized by assessment of risks of bleeding and thrombosis, use of haemostatic means other than blood components or no therapy at all. The RBDs pose a problem for guideline writers because there are no suitable clinical trials to supply good evidence for how these people are best treated. The lack of adequate information on clinical manifestations, treatment and genetic basis of RBDs could be improved by the collection of data in an International Database (http://www.rbdd.org), linkable to others previously published. This could be a useful tool to fill the gap between clinical data and clinical practice. This article reviews the genetic basis of RBDs, problems and complications of treatment, problems in the preparation of suitable guidelines for treatment and the future perspectives of the International Registry on RBDs.

Variable bleeding manifestations characterize different types of surgery in patients with severe factor XI deficiency enabling parsimonious use of replacement therapy

Summary.  Surgery performed without blood component therapy in patients with severe factor XI deficiency can be accompanied by excessive bleeding in some but not all patients. In an attempt to minimize the use of blood derivatives, we carried out a retrospective analysis of bleeding complications in 120 patients with severe FXI deficiency (level of <1–15 U dL−1) who had undergone different types of surgical procedures without replacement therapy. Procedures at tissues exhibiting fibrinolytic activity were associated with bleeding in 49–67% of the patients, while procedures involving sites with no local fibrinolytic activity were associated with bleeding in 1.5–40%. The increased bleeding tendency at fibrinolytic site was significant (P = 0.0015), but was unrelated to the genotype of the patients. Thus, parsimonious use of replacement therapy is possible in patients with severe FXI deficiency undergoing surgery predicting a decrease in the risks of volume overload, transfusion related acute lung injury, transmission of infectious diseases, thrombosis, allergic reactions and development of inhibitors to FXI.

Inherited factor XI deficiency confers no protection against acute myocardial infarction

Summary.  Background and purpose: Factor XI (FXI) contributes to thrombin generation thereby affecting fibrin formation and to down regulation of fibrinolysis by activation of thrombin‐activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether patients with severe FXI deficiency are protected against acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: The incidence of AMI in patients with severe FXI deficiency (FXI activity less than 15 U dL−1) whose age was 35 years or more was compared to the incidence of AMI in age and gender matched persons of the general population. Atherosclerotic risk factors were assessed in FXI deficient patients and blood was tested for prothrombotic parameters such as FV Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, lupus anticoagulant, and platelet membrane polymorphisms. The common mutations causing FXI deficiency in Jews were also examined. Results: Of 96 patients with severe FXI deficiency (55 women and 41 men) 16 had a history of AMI (6 women and 10 men). The median age at the time of AMI was 64.5 for women and 58 for men. The calculated annual rate of AMI in men was similar to the expected in the general Israeli population, whereas in women it was almost 2‐fold higher, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. One or more atherosclerotic risk factors were observed in 13 of 16 patients (81.3%) with AMI compared to 44 of 79 patients (55.7%) without AMI (P < 0.001). The frequency distributions of platelet polymorphisms and of prothrombotic polymorphisms were not different between patients with severe FXI deficiency who experienced or not an AMI. None of the patients had lupus anticoagulant. The common genotypes which cause FXI deficiency in Jews were similarly distributed in patients with and without AMI. Conclusions: Severe FXI deficiency does not confer protection against AMI.

Patients with severe factor XI deficiency have a reduced incidence of deep-vein thrombosis

Factor XI (FXI) plays a dual role in haemostasis and thrombosis. It contributes to thrombin generation and promotes inhibition of fibrinolysis. Severe FXI deficiency was shown to confer protection against arterial and venous thrombosis in animal models without compromising haemostasis. We have previously shown that patients with severe FXI deficiency have a low incidence of ischaemic stroke, but display the usual incidence of myocardial infarction. In the present study, we compared the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in 219 unrelated patients with severe FXI deficiency aged 20-94 to the incidence in a large population-based study. No cases of DVT were observed in the FXI-deficient cohort, a result that is significantly lower than the expected number (4.68) computed from the population-based study. The low incidence remains statistically significant when compared to three other population-based studies. These data suggest that severe FXI deficiency provides protection against DVT.

Plasma replacement therapy during labor is not mandatory for women with severe factor XI deficiency.

Severe factor XI deficiency is an injury-related bleeding disorder. The risk of excessive post-partum hemorrhage in affected women has so far been evaluated in a relatively small number of patients and it is uncertain whether prophylactic treatment with fresh frozen plasma or factor XI concentrate is needed during or after vaginal or cesarean delivery. We retrospectively analyzed bleeding manifestations related to vaginal and/or cesarean deliveries in a cohort of 62 women with factor XI activity < 17 U/dl and evaluated whether replacement therapy is essential. Fifty-one women had 139 vaginal deliveries, six women had 13 cesarean deliveries, and five women had seven vaginal as well as five cesarean deliveries. Forty-three of the 62 women (69.4%) never experienced post-partum hemorrhage during 93 deliveries (85 vaginal, eight cesarean). Hemorrhage occurred in 19 women, which in six women accompanied each one of their 17 vaginal deliveries. Post-partum hemorrhage had no relationship with the abnormal genotype that caused factor XI deficiency nor with factor XI level. These observations suggest that the use of fresh frozen plasma or factor XI concentrate during and/or after vaginal delivery is not mandatory in women with severe factor XI deficiency and can be reserved for patients who develop excessive hemorrhage. For women requiring cesarean section it appears that the same policy can be advocated but more observations are needed.

Congenital Factor XI Deficiency: An Update

Severe factor XI (FXI) deficiency is an injury-related bleeding disorder, common in Ashkenazi Jews (with two mutations prevailing), but rare worldwide (with heterogeneous mutations). In the past two decades, more than 220 mutations in the FXI gene have been reported in patients with FXI deficiency, of which 7 showed a founder effect. Inhibitors to FXI were described in patients with null-allele mutations, following exposure to plasma, FXI concentrates, or anti-RhD immunoglobulin. Treatment of patients with severe FXI deficiency remains challenging because factors influencing bleeding risks are still unknown. The use of lower doses of recombinant activated factor VII in comparison with the doses commonly applied in hemophilia A or B seems promising also when assessed in vitro by thrombin generation test. Recently, FXI has been shown to have a separate role in hemostasis and in thrombosis. In animal models, targeting FXI by knocking out the gene or by using FXI-neutralizing antibodies, antisense oligonucleotides, and peptidomimetic inhibitors, prevents arterial and vein thrombosis. The homology between human and murine FXI and the significant antithrombotic effect of FXI deficiency in animal models resulted in the development of a novel approach of targeting FXI for prevention of thrombosis without impairing hemostasis in high-risk patients. The acceptance of FXI as a risk factor for thrombosis is a new concept, and patients with severe FXI deficiency might gain profit during life course.