Reinhard Schneppenheim

Update on the pathophysiology and classification of von Willebrand disease: a report of the Subcommittee on von Willebrand Factor

Summary.  von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder caused by inherited defects in the concentration, structure, or function of von Willebrand factor (VWF). VWD is classified into three primary categories. Type 1 includes partial quantitative deficiency, type 2 includes qualitative defects, and type 3 includes virtually complete deficiency of VWF. VWD type 2 is divided into four secondary categories. Type 2A includes variants with decreased platelet adhesion caused by selective deficiency of high‐molecular‐weight VWF multimers. Type 2B includes variants with increased affinity for platelet glycoprotein Ib. Type 2M includes variants with markedly defective platelet adhesion despite a relatively normal size distribution of VWF multimers. Type 2N includes variants with markedly decreased affinity for factor VIII. These six categories of VWD correlate with important clinical features and therapeutic requirements. Some VWF gene mutations, alone or in combination, have complex effects and give rise to mixed VWD phenotypes. Certain VWD types, especially type 1 and type 2A, encompass several pathophysiologic mechanisms that sometimes can be distinguished by appropriate laboratory studies. The clinical significance of this heterogeneity is under investigation, which may support further subdivision of VWD type 1 or type 2A in the future.

A quantitative analysis of bleeding symptoms in type 1 von Willebrand disease: results from a multicenter European study (MCMDM‐1 VWD)

Summary.  Background: A quantitative description of bleeding symptoms in type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) has never been reported. Objectives: The aim was to quantitatively evaluate the severity of bleeding symptoms in type 1 VWD and its correlation with clinical and laboratory features. Patients and methods: Bleeding symptoms were retrospectively recorded in a European cohort of VWD type 1 families, and for each subject a quantitative bleeding score (BS) was obtained together with phenotypic tests. Results: A total of 712 subjects belonging to 144 families and 195 controls were available for analysis. The BS was higher in index cases than in affected family members (BS 9 vs. 5, P < 0.0001) and in unaffected family members than in controls (BS 0 vs. −1, P < 0.0001). There was no effect of ABO blood group. BS showed a strong significant inverse relation with either von Willebrand ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo), von Willebrand antigen (VWF:Ag) or factor VIII procoagulant activity (FVIII:C) measured at time of enrollment, even after adjustment for age, sex and blood group (P < 0.001 for all the four upper quintiles of BS vs. the first quintile, for either VWF:RCo, VWF:Ag or FVIII:C). Higher BS was related with increasing likelihood of VWD, and a mucocutaneous BS (computed from spontaneous, mucocutaneous symptoms) was strongly associated with bleeding after surgery or tooth extraction. Conclusions: Quantitative analysis of bleeding symptoms is potentially useful for a more accurate diagnosis of type 1 VWD and to develop guidelines for its optimal treatment.

Germline Nonsense Mutation and Somatic Inactivation of SMARCA4/BRG1 in a Family with Rhabdoid Tumor Predisposition Syndrome

Rhabdoid tumors of early infancy are highly aggressive with consequent poor prognosis. Most cases show inactivation of the SMARCB1 (also known as INI1 and hSNF5) tumor suppressor, a core member of the ATP-dependent SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. Familial cases, described as rhabdoid tumor predisposition syndrome (RTPS), have been linked to heterozygous SMARCB1 germline mutations. We identified inactivation of another member of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex, its ATPase subunit SMARCA4 (also known as BRG1), due to a SMARCA4/BRG1 germline mutation and loss of heterozygosity by uniparental disomy in the tumor cells of two sisters with rhabdoid tumors lacking SMARCB1 mutations. SMARCA4 is thus a second member of the SWI/SNF complex involved in cancer predisposition. Its general involvement in other tumor entities remains to be established.

Resistance to activated protein C (APCR) in children with venous or arterial thromboembolism.

Resistance to activated protein C (APCR), in the majority of cases due to the point mutation Arg 506 Gln of the factor V gene, has emerged as the most important hereditary cause of venous thromboembolism. Using an activated thromboplastin time (aPTT) based method in the presence of APC together with a DNA technique based on the polymerase chain reaction, we investigated 37 children with venous (V: n = 19) or arterial (A: n = 18) thromboembolism and 196 age‐matched healthy controls for the presence of this mutation. In the control group 10 children were detected to be heterozygous for the factor V Leiden mutation, indicating a prevalence of 5.1%. 10/19 children (52%) with venous thrombosis and 7/18 (38%) patients with arterial thromboembolism showed the common factor V gene mutation. Additional inherited coagulation disorders were found in 1/10 (V: 10%) and 2/7 (A: 28%) APC‐resistant patients. Inherited coagulation disorders without APCR were diagnosed in 3/9 (V: 33%) and 2/11 (A: 18%) children. Furthermore, we diagnosed exogenous risk factors in 6/10 (V: 60%) and 2/7 (A: 28%) children with thrombosis and APCR. These data are evidence that APCR combined with exogenous reasons may play an important role in the early manifestation of thromboembolism during infancy and childhood.

Haemophilia A: from mutation analysis to new therapies

Haemophilia is caused by hundreds of different mutations and manifests itself in clinical conditions of varying severity. Despite being inherited in monogenic form, the clinical features of haemophilia can be influenced by other genetic factors, thereby confounding the boundary between monogenic and multifactorial disease. Unlike sufferers of other genetic diseases, haemophiliacs can be treated successfully by intravenous substitution of coagulation factors. Haemophilia is also the most attractive model for developing gene-therapy protocols, as the normal life expectancy of haemophiliacs allows the side effects of gene therapy, as well as its efficiency, to be monitored over long periods.

Nonsense Mutation and Inactivation of SMARCA4 (BRG1) in an Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumor Showing Retained SMARCB1 (INI1) Expression

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs) are highly aggressive brain tumors of early childhood poorly responding to therapy. The majority of cases show inactivation of SMARCB1 (INI1, hSNF5, BAF47), a core member of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex. We here report the case of a supratentorial AT/RT in a 9-month-old boy, which showed retained SMARCB1 staining on immunohistochemistry and lacked genetic alterations of SMARCB1. Instead, the tumor showed loss of protein expression of another SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex member, the ATPase subunit SMARCA4 (BRG1) due to a homozygous SMARCA4 mutation [c.2032C>T (p.Q678X)]. Our findings highlight the role of SMARCA4 in the pathogenesis of SMARCB1-positive AT/RT and the usefulness of antibodies directed against SMARCA4 in this diagnostic setting.

Detailed von Willebrand factor multimer analysis in patients with von Willebrand disease in the European study, molecular and clinical markers for the diagnosis and management of type 1 von Willebrand disease (MCMDM-1VWD)

Summary.  Background: Type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a congenital bleeding disorder characterized by a partial quantitative deficiency of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) in the absence of structural and/or functional VWF defects. Accurate assessment of the quantity and quality of plasma VWF is difficult but is a prerequisite for correct classification. Objective: To evaluate the proportion of misclassification of patients historically diagnosed with type 1 VWD using detailed analysis of the VWF multimer structure. Patients and methods: Previously diagnosed type 1 VWD families and healthy controls were recruited by 12 expert centers in nine European countries. Phenotypic characterization comprised plasma VWF parameters and multimer analysis using low‐ and intermediate‐resolution gels combined with an optimized visualization system. VWF genotyping was performed in all index cases (ICs). Results: Abnormal multimers were present in 57 out of 150 ICs; however, only 29 out of these 57 (51%) had VWF ristocetin cofactor to antigen ratio below 0.7. In most cases multimer abnormalities were subtle, and only two cases had a significant loss of the largest multimers. Conclusions: Of the cases previously diagnosed as type 1 VWD, 38% showed abnormal multimers. Depending on the classification criteria used, 22 out of these 57 cases (15% of the total cohort) may be reclassified as type 2, emphasizing the requirement for multimer analysis compared with a mere ratio of VWF functional parameters and VWF:Ag. This is further supported by the finding that even slightly aberrant multimers are highly predictive for the presence of VWF mutations.

Identification of type 1 von Willebrand disease patients with reduced von Willebrand factor survival by assay of the VWF propeptide in the European study: Molecular and Clinical Markers for the Diagnosis and Management of Type 1 VWD (MCMDM-1VWD)

The decreased survival of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in plasma has been implicated as a mechanism in a subset of type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD) patients. We have previously reported that the ratio of plasma levels of VWF and its propeptide (VWFpp) can be used to identify patients with reduced VWF survival. In this study, we report the assay of VWFpp and VWF:Ag in 19 individuals recruited from 6 European centers within the MCMDM-1VWD study. Eight individuals had a VWF:Ag level less than 30 IU/dL. Seven of these patients had a robust desmopressin response and significantly reduced VWF half-life that was predicted by a markedly increased steady-state plasma VWFpp/VWF:Ag ratio. VWF mutations previously associated with reduced VWF survival were identified in each of the 7 individuals. Thus, a substantially increased ratio of steady-state VWFpp/VWF:Ag predicted a reduced VWF half-life in patients with markedly decreased VWF:Ag levels. These data indicate that a reduced VWF survival is found in a subpopulation of patients with type 1 VWD. The systematic assay of both plasma VWF and the VWF propeptide in moderately severe type 1 VWD patients may identify patients with a reduced VWF survival phenotype.

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome – the original patient and his natural history, historical steps leading to the primary defect, and a review of the literature

AbstractFanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of carbohydrate metabolism recently demonstrated to be caused by mutations in Glut2, the gene for the glucose transporter protein 2 expressed in liver, pancreas, intestine and kidney. The disease was first described in a 3-year-old Swiss boy in 1949. Here we report a follow up of this original patient over more than 50 years and show that the typical clinical and laboratory findings of FBS (hepatomegaly secondary to glycogen accumulation, glucose and galactose intolerance, fasting hypoglycaemia, a characteristic proximal tubular nephropathy and severe short stature) persist into adulthood. We further summarize the historical observations that eventually led to the identification of the basic defect of FBS and give an overview of the 82 cases from 70 families in the published literature and from personal communications. Conclusion Although with the first description of a congenital defect of facilitative glucose transport the main steps in the pathophysiology of Fanconi-Bickel syndrome have been elucidated, numerous pathophysiological mechanisms are far from clear and thus encourage the ongoing study of patients with this disorder.

Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors Are Comprised of Three Epigenetic Subgroups with Distinct Enhancer Landscapes

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is one of the most common brain tumors in infants. Although the prognosis of ATRT patients is poor, some patients respond favorably to current treatments, suggesting molecular inter-tumor heterogeneity. To investigate this further, we genetically and epigenetically analyzed 192 ATRTs. Three distinct molecular subgroups of ATRTs, associated with differences in demographics, tumor location, and type of SMARCB1 alterations, were identified. Whole-genome DNA and RNA sequencing found no recurrent mutations in addition to SMARCB1 that would explain the differences between subgroups. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and H3K27Ac chromatin-immunoprecipitation sequencing of primary tumors, however, revealed clear differences, leading to the identification of subgroup-specific regulatory networks and potential therapeutic targets.