Von Willebrand Disease (vWd) Characterized by Increased Ristocetin Aggregation: A Study of Eleven Cases

1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ciavarella ◽  
F. I. Pareti ◽  
Z. M. Ruggeri ◽  
P. M. Mannucci

The defective ristocetin aggregation occurring in patients with vWd is thought to depend on the decrease of a plasmatic factor related to factor VIII (Willebrand factor, VIIIVWF) 10 patients from 3 families had a mild to moderate bleeding tendency with autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance and laboratory findings suggestive for vWd (decreased levels of antihemophilic factor, and factor- VIII related antigen reduced platelet retention to glass beads columns and prolonged bleeding time). However, ristocetin aggregation in PRP was markedly increased, although VIIIVWF plasma levels were decreased. Aggregation induced in PRP by other agents (such as ADP, adrenaline and collagen), and the release of 14C serotonin was normal; the addition of purified bovine factor VIII was followed by normal aggregation in patients’ PRP and washed platelets. Patients’ washed platelets added to normal plasma aggregated to ristocetin more than normal washed platelets with patients’ plasma; the most marked aggregation response, however, was obtained when patients’ washed platelets were mixed with their own plasma. These findings suggest that a, platelet component is involved in the hyperaggregation response to ristocetin of these patients; however, the interaction of platelets with patients’ plasma is needed to produce the maximum response.Supported by a grant of the Fondazione Angelo Bianchi Bonomi.

1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (02) ◽  
pp. 173-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M Randi ◽  
Elisabetta Sacchi ◽  
Gian Carlo Castaman ◽  
Francesco Rodeghiero ◽  
Pier Mannuccio Mannucci

SummaryType I von Willebrand disease (vWD) Vicenza is a rare variant with autosomal dominant transmission, characterized by the presence of supranormal von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers in plasma, similar to those normally found in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes. The patients have very low levels of plasma vWF contrasting with a mild bleeding tendency. The pathophysiology of this subtype is still unknown. The presence of supranormal multimers in the patients’ plasma could be due to a mutation in the vWF molecule which affects post-translational processing, or to a defect in the cells’ processing machinery, independent of the vWF molecule. In order to determne if type I vWD Vicenza is linked to the vWF gene, we studied six polymorphic systems identified within the vWF gene in two apparently unrelated families with type I vWD Vicenza. The results of this study indicate a linkage between vWF gene and the type I vWD Vicenza trait. This strongly suggests that type I vWD Vicenza is due to a mutation in one of the vWF alleles, which results in an abnormal vWF molecule that is processed to a lesser extent than normal vWF.


1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Barbui ◽  
F. Baudo ◽  
A. Capitanio ◽  
N. Ciavarella ◽  
P. M. Mannucci ◽  
...  

The following tests have been carried out in 101 patients with vWd: bleeding time (BT), ristocetin aggregation in PRP (RA), platelet retention to glass bead columns (PR), antihemophilic factor (VIIIAHF). factor-VIII antigen (VIIAGN) and Willebrand factor (VIIIVWF. measured with a washed platelet system), 86 patients had a clinical form of the disease of moderate severity and autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. In 59 of them VIIIAHF. VIIIAGN and VIIIVWF were concomitantly reduced, PR was usually low and BT moderately prolonged (type I vWd). These patients could be further divided into three subtypes according to the behaviour of RA, which was normal in type la, decreased in type lb and increased in type lc. Typo I vWd is thought to represent an example of decreased synthesis of factor VIII, as suggested by the concomitant decreased of the three factor-VIII related properties. Since RA was found to be either decreased, normal or increased in presence of reduced plasma levels of VTIIVWF. the latter cannot bes solely responsible of the extent of RA in PRP, which may be also related to the variations of a platelet component.27 patients showed very prolonged BT, low PR and absent or markedly rudeced RA: VIIIVWF was much lower than VIIIAHF and VIIIAGN. 15 patients had no family history, a severe clinical form of the disease, unmeasurable levels of VIIIAHF, VIIIAGN and VIIIVWF and markedly abnormal BT, PR and RA. In the majority of their unaffected parents, VIIIVWF and VIIIAGN were much lower than VIIIAHF These patients are similar to the case of recessive vWd described by Veltkamp and Tilbury (N. Engl. J. Med. 289.. 882, 1973).Supported by a grant of the Fondazione Angelo Bianchi Bonomi.


Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 3130-3137 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Mannucci ◽  
PM Tenconi ◽  
G Castaman ◽  
F Rodeghiero

Abstract Until recently, cryoprecipitate has been the treatment of choice in patients with severe von Willebrand disease (vWD) because it can transiently correct low plasma levels of factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) and shorten or normalize the prolonged bleeding time (BT), the two laboratory hallmarks of the disease. However, cryoprecipitate may still transmit blood-borne viruses, whereas the development of virucidal methods have rendered plasma concentrates containing FVIII:C and von Willebrand factor (vWF) safer. To establish their potential usefulness in the treatment of vWD, we compared the effect of four virus-inactivated concentrates on FVII:C and vWF plasma levels and the BT (template method) in 10 patients with severe vWD using a crossover randomized design. The concentrates were an intermediate-purity, pasteurized FVIII-vWF concentrate; an intermediate-purity, dry-heated FVIII-vWF concentrate; a solvent/detergent-treated vWF concentrate, containing little FVIII; and a high-purity solvent/detergent-treated FVIII-vWF concentrate. All concentrates were equally effective in attaining normal and sustained levels of FVIII:C postinfusion, although peak levels were more delayed after the vWF concentrate. The effect of concentrates on the BT, however, was less uniform and satisfactory. The pasteurized FVIII-vWF concentrate transiently corrected, completely or partially, the BT in 8 of 10 patients, the dry-heated and solvent/detergent FVIII/vWF concentrates in five, whereas in no patient did the vWF concentrate correct the BT according to the criteria used in this study. These effects on the BT were not related to the plasma levels of ristocetin cofactor activity-attained postinfusion (100 U/dL or more in the majority of patients) or to the multimeric structure of vWF in concentrates (defective in larger multimers in all cases). In conclusion, even though virus-inactivated concentrates can be used to increase FVIII:C levels in patients with severe vWD, none of the concentrates studied by us consistently normalizes the BT in a sustained fashion.


Blood ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
MR Ledford ◽  
I Rabinowitz ◽  
JE Sadler ◽  
JW Kent ◽  
F Civantos

A variant of von Willebrand disease (vWD) was identified in six members of a kindred spanning four generations. The proband was a 46-year-old woman with a lifelong history of bleeding, a prolonged bleeding time (> 15 minutes), markedly elevated von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen (vWF:Ag = 2.09 U/mL), slightly reduced ristocetin cofactor activity, and a plasma vWF multimer pattern similar to that of vWD type IIC. Similar findings were observed in her three children, mother, and brother. In affected family members, platelet and plasma vWF multimer patterns were discrepant with higher molecular weight multimers observed in platelet vWF. Following a 1-Des-amino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) challenge, the proband failed to normalize her bleeding time even though vWF: Ag rose by 70% and higher molecular weight multimers were increased slightly. Genetic studies were consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance of a mutation within the vWF gene. By sequencing of cloned genomic DNA, mutations were excluded in exons 4, 5, 14, and 15, which encode regions of the vWF propeptide proposed to be important in multimer biosynthesis. Mutations also were excluded in exons 28 to 31, which encompass the known mutations that cause vWD types IIA, IIB, and B. This new variant of vWD, characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance, a qualitative defect that resembles vWD type IIC, and increased plasma vWF:Ag, was tentatively designated vWD type IIC Miami.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 2258-2265 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Sweeney ◽  
EK Novak ◽  
M Reddington ◽  
KH Takeuchi ◽  
RT Swank

Abstract Mice of the RIIIS/J inbred strain have prolonged bleeding times (greater than 15 minutes) after experimental injury when compared with normal C57BL/6J mice (1.8 minutes) and other strains of mice. The prolonged bleeding time was accompanied by normal platelet counts. Platelet aggregation with collagen and agglutination with ristocetin were not significantly altered in RIIIS/J mice. Also, platelets from RIIIS/J mice had normal serotonin content and normal numbers of dense granules by electron microscopy. Thus, the bleeding abnormality is not due to platelet storage pool deficiency as has been found in several other mouse mutants. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) which plasma from RIIIS/J mice was prolonged compared with normal mice, and factor VIII:C activity and von Willebrand antigen levels were one half to one third that of normal mouse plasma. Factor XI activity was also significantly deficient (levels at 42% to 64% of normal). Plasma of RIIIS/J mice contained the full complement of multimers of von Willebrand factor, although each multimer was lower in concentration compared with that in normal mice. Platelet alpha-granule von Willebrand antigen levels were similar to those of normal mice. The prolonged bleeding time of RIIIS/J mice was corrected by treatment with desmopressin. Heterozygous C57BL/6J x RIIIS/J F1 animals had low plasma von Willebrand antigen levels like the RIIIS/J parent and had variable bleeding times. Inheritance of the bleeding tendency was as an incomplete dominant, autosomal trait. These data indicate the RIIIS/J strain is a suitable animal model for type IA von Willebrand disease.


Blood ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 79 (12) ◽  
pp. 3130-3137 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Mannucci ◽  
PM Tenconi ◽  
G Castaman ◽  
F Rodeghiero

Until recently, cryoprecipitate has been the treatment of choice in patients with severe von Willebrand disease (vWD) because it can transiently correct low plasma levels of factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C) and shorten or normalize the prolonged bleeding time (BT), the two laboratory hallmarks of the disease. However, cryoprecipitate may still transmit blood-borne viruses, whereas the development of virucidal methods have rendered plasma concentrates containing FVIII:C and von Willebrand factor (vWF) safer. To establish their potential usefulness in the treatment of vWD, we compared the effect of four virus-inactivated concentrates on FVII:C and vWF plasma levels and the BT (template method) in 10 patients with severe vWD using a crossover randomized design. The concentrates were an intermediate-purity, pasteurized FVIII-vWF concentrate; an intermediate-purity, dry-heated FVIII-vWF concentrate; a solvent/detergent-treated vWF concentrate, containing little FVIII; and a high-purity solvent/detergent-treated FVIII-vWF concentrate. All concentrates were equally effective in attaining normal and sustained levels of FVIII:C postinfusion, although peak levels were more delayed after the vWF concentrate. The effect of concentrates on the BT, however, was less uniform and satisfactory. The pasteurized FVIII-vWF concentrate transiently corrected, completely or partially, the BT in 8 of 10 patients, the dry-heated and solvent/detergent FVIII/vWF concentrates in five, whereas in no patient did the vWF concentrate correct the BT according to the criteria used in this study. These effects on the BT were not related to the plasma levels of ristocetin cofactor activity-attained postinfusion (100 U/dL or more in the majority of patients) or to the multimeric structure of vWF in concentrates (defective in larger multimers in all cases). In conclusion, even though virus-inactivated concentrates can be used to increase FVIII:C levels in patients with severe vWD, none of the concentrates studied by us consistently normalizes the BT in a sustained fashion.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 450-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier M. Mannucci ◽  
Juan Chediak ◽  
Wahid Hanna ◽  
John Byrnes ◽  
Marlies Ledford ◽  
...  

Abstract Among patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) who are unresponsive to desmopressin therapy, replacement with plasma-derived concentrates is the treatment of choice. Because prospective studies are lacking, such treatment has been largely empirical. A multicenter, prospective study has been conducted in 81 patients with VWD (15 patients with type 1, 34 with type 2, and 32 with type 3 disease) to investigate the efficacy of a high-purity factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (FVIII/VWF) concentrate for treatment of bleeding and surgical prophylaxis. Two preparations of the concentrate—one virally inactivated with solvent detergent, the other with an additional heat-treatment step—were evaluated. Pharmacokinetic parameters were similar for both preparations. Using pre-established dosages based on the results of pharmacokinetic studies, 53 patients were administered either preparation for the treatment of 87 bleeding episodes, and 39 patients were treated prophylactically for 71 surgical or invasive procedures. Sixty-five (74.7%) and 10 (11.5%) of the bleeding episodes were controlled with 1 or 2 infusions, respectively. Patients with severe type 3 VWD typically required more infusions and higher doses, at shorter time intervals, than did patients with generally milder types 1 and 2. Among patients undergoing surgical procedures, blood loss was lower than that predicted prospectively, and losses exceeding the predicted value did not correlate with the postinfusion skin bleeding time. In conclusion, the concentrate effectively stopped active bleeding and provided adequate hemostasis for surgical or invasive procedures, even in the absence of bleeding time correction.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
P M Mannucci ◽  
M Moia ◽  
D Altieri ◽  
J Monteagudo ◽  
R Castillo

Even though it is generally held that cryoprecipitate (cryo) and fraction I-0 correct the prolonged bleeding time (BT) in patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD), perusal of reported data indicates that the correction is usually short lasting and often partial. We decided to do a controlled study of the relationship between the multimeric structure of von Willebrand factor (VWF) in 5 patients with severe VWD after infusion of three plasma concentrates : "wet" cryo, lyophilized (lyo) cryo, and fraction 1-0 given in random order. The dosage of concentrates was tailored to achieve post infusion levels of RiCof above the lower normal limit (50 U/dL) for at least 3 hours. The post-infusion BT values are shown in the table.These findings indicate that the attainment of a normal BT is the exception rather than the rule after infusion of three plasma fractions used for treatment of severe VWD. In all the concentrates the proportions of large VWF multimers, calculated by scanning the electrophoretic gels, were the same as in normal standard plasmas. An intact multimeric structure was recovered in post-infusion plasma of patients treated with wet cryo, whereas there was post infusion loss of large multimers after lyo and fraction I-O. In conclusion, an intact multimeric structure in post infusion plasmas is necessary but not sufficient to sustain a normal BT in VWD patients.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (11) ◽  
pp. 2258-2265
Author(s):  
JD Sweeney ◽  
EK Novak ◽  
M Reddington ◽  
KH Takeuchi ◽  
RT Swank

Mice of the RIIIS/J inbred strain have prolonged bleeding times (greater than 15 minutes) after experimental injury when compared with normal C57BL/6J mice (1.8 minutes) and other strains of mice. The prolonged bleeding time was accompanied by normal platelet counts. Platelet aggregation with collagen and agglutination with ristocetin were not significantly altered in RIIIS/J mice. Also, platelets from RIIIS/J mice had normal serotonin content and normal numbers of dense granules by electron microscopy. Thus, the bleeding abnormality is not due to platelet storage pool deficiency as has been found in several other mouse mutants. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) which plasma from RIIIS/J mice was prolonged compared with normal mice, and factor VIII:C activity and von Willebrand antigen levels were one half to one third that of normal mouse plasma. Factor XI activity was also significantly deficient (levels at 42% to 64% of normal). Plasma of RIIIS/J mice contained the full complement of multimers of von Willebrand factor, although each multimer was lower in concentration compared with that in normal mice. Platelet alpha-granule von Willebrand antigen levels were similar to those of normal mice. The prolonged bleeding time of RIIIS/J mice was corrected by treatment with desmopressin. Heterozygous C57BL/6J x RIIIS/J F1 animals had low plasma von Willebrand antigen levels like the RIIIS/J parent and had variable bleeding times. Inheritance of the bleeding tendency was as an incomplete dominant, autosomal trait. These data indicate the RIIIS/J strain is a suitable animal model for type IA von Willebrand disease.


Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. 1972-1975 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Cattaneo ◽  
M Moia ◽  
P Delle Valle ◽  
P Castellana ◽  
PM Mannucci

Abstract After infusion of cryoprecipitate, the very prolonged bleeding time of patients with severe von Willebrand disease (vWD) is shortened but not always normalized in spite of normalization of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels. Therefore treatments that further improve primary hemostasis in severe vWD patients are needed. Since DDAVP shortens the bleeding time in a variety of bleeding disorders, we investigated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study the effects of the intravenous (IV) infusion of DDAVP (0.3 microgram/kg) on the bleeding times of 10 patients with severe vWD treated with cryoprecipitate. Their very prolonged bleeding times (greater than 30 minutes), partially corrected by the infusion of cryoprecipitate (14 +/- 2 minutes, mean +/- SEM), were further shortened by the administration of DDAVP (9 +/- 2 minutes, P less than .01) but not of saline (15 +/- 3 minutes, ns). Plasma vWF levels, raised from unmeasurable to normal values by cryoprecipitate, were not changed after DDAVP or saline. The defective deposition of platelets from eight patients onto human umbilical artery subendothelium was increased but not normalized by cryoprecipitate and was not significantly affected by DDAVP or saline. Therefore the infusion of DDAVP after cryoprecipitate may be of clinical benefit for management of bleeding episodes in severe vWD patients. Since severe vWD patients do not have releasable tissue stores of vWF, DDAVP must shorten their prolonged bleeding times independently of released vWF.


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