Diagnostic Workup of Patients with Acquired Von Willebrand’s Syndrome.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1045-1045
Author(s):  
Andreas Tiede ◽  
Jan Priesack ◽  
Oliver Bolte ◽  
Arne Trummer ◽  
Katrin Bohlmann ◽  
...  

Abstract Acquired von Willebrand’s syndrome (AVWS) is a rare but probably underdiagnosed hemorrhagic disorder often associated with hematological or cardiovalvular disorders. Diagnostic workup remains challenging, particularly in patients with normal or increased von Willebrand factor antigen (Ag) and ristocetin cofactor (RCo). Here, we present a retrospective single-center study of 35 patients diagnosed with AVWS based on (i) a history of recent onset of bleeding, (ii) a negative family history of von Willebrand’s disease, and (iii) abnormal plasma VWF multimers. AVWS was associated with monoclonal gammopathy (n=11), cardiovalvular disorders (n=16), or other conditions (n=8) including myeloproliferative and autoimmune disorders. The PFA-100® screening test was inconclusive due to anemia (hematocrit <30 %) or thrombocytopenia (<100/nl) in 10 patients (29 %); prolonged closure times were observed using collagen/epinephrine and collagen/adrenalin in 20 of 25 (80 %) and 18 of 25 (72 %) patients, respectively. Factor VIII:C was reduced below 50 IU/dl in 7 of 35 patients (20 %). VWF Ag and RCo were reduced below 50 IU/dl in 8 patients (23 %). VWF Ag and RCo were normal or increased in all patients with cardiovalvular disease and in four of eleven patients with gammopathy. Median VWF Ag was higher in cardiovalvular disease (median 202 IU/dl, range 90 to 608) compared to gammopathy (median 31 IU/dl, range 8 to 468, p<0.02 by Mann Whitney U test). Of 27 patients with normal or increased VWF Ag and RCo, 12 (44 %) had a reduced collagen binding activity (CBA) or CBA to Ag ratio <0.7; 10 (37 %) had a borderline CBA ratio between 0.7 and 0.8; 5 (19 %) had a normal CBA >0.8. A normal or increased VWF Ag together with a CBA ratio >0.7 was observed both in patients with cardiovalvular disease (n=9), gammopathy (n=2) and other disorders (n=4). However, in all patients the largest VWF multimers were decreased (n=14) or absent (n=21). In conclusion, no single test was sufficient to detect all cases of AVWS. The PFA-100® test is of limited use in this population because of its limitation in anemia or thrombocytopenia and because of its low sensitivity. A significant number of patients present with a normal or increased VWF Ag and RCo as well as a CBA ratio >0.7 emphasizing the importance of multimer analysis in all patients with suspected AVWS.

2009 ◽  
Vol 03 (01) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel Meiring ◽  
Philip N Badenhorst ◽  
Mareli Kelderman ◽  
◽  
◽  
...  

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder caused by either quantitative (type 1 and 3) or qualitative (type 2) defects of von Willebrand factor (VWF). No single available test provides appropriate information about the various functions of VWF, and the laboratory diagnosis of VWD is based on a panel of tests, including the measurement of factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIIIC), VWF antigen levels (VWF:Ag), VWF activity as measured by the ristocetin co-factor activity (VWF:RCo), the collagen-binding activity of VWF (VWF:CB), VWF multimer analysis, ristocetininduced platelet agglutination (RIPA), the factor-VIII-binding assay of plasma VWF and VWF propeptide levels. Due to the heterogeneity of VWF defects and the variables that interfere with VWF levels, a correct diagnosis of types and subtypes may sometimes be difficult, but is very important for therapy. Furthermore, the RCo assay and the RIPA test are based on platelet agglutination in reaction with the non-physiological antibiotic ristocetin. These tests also have low sensitivity and are difficult to standardise. Therefore, several analyses (tests) are required to diagnose VWD and it is important to be aware of the pitfalls to which these tests are subjected in terms of the diagnosis. In this article, the laboratory diagnosis of patients with type 1, 2A, 2B, 2M, 2N and 3 VWD will be explained by using a modified algorithm that was first proposed by the guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of VWD in Italy.


1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (04) ◽  
pp. 464-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Fujimura ◽  
S Miyata ◽  
S Nishida ◽  
S Miura ◽  
M Kaneda ◽  
...  

SummaryWe have recently shown the existence of two distinct forms of botrocetin (one-chain and two-chain), and demonstrated that the two-chain species is approximately 30 times more active than the one-chain in promoting von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib. The N-terminal sequence of two-chain botrocetin is highly homologous to sea-urchin Echinoidin and other Ca2+-dependent lectins (Fujimura et al., Biochemistry 1991; 30: 1957–64).Present data indicate that purified two-chain botrocetin binds to vWF from plasmas of patients with type IIA or IIB von Willebrand disease and its interaction is indistinguishable from that with vWF from normal individuals. However, an “activated complex” formed between botrocetin and IIB vWF expresses an enhanced biological activity for binding to GP Ib whereas the complex with IIA vWF has a decreased binding activity. Among several anti-vWF monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) which inhibit ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation and/or vWF binding to GPIb, only two MoAbs (NMC-4 and RFF-VIII RAG:1) abolished direct binding between purified botrocetin and vWF. This suggests that they recognize an epitope(s) on the vWF molecule in close proximity to the botrocetin binding site.


1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (02) ◽  
pp. 930-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ping Chang ◽  
D L Aronson

SummaryFive plasma preparations (11 lots) used in the treatment of von Willebrand’s disease (vWD) were evaluated. The collagen binding function of von Willebrand factor (vWF) containing preparations was compared with the ristocetin cofactor activity and the vWF antigen. Some preparations have higher ratio of functional activity (ristocetin cofactor and collagen binding) relative to the antigen than is found in normal plasma. The ristocetin cofactor activity and the collagen binding activity are tightly correlated (r = .95). Ultracentrifugal (UCF) analysis was used to compare the size distribution of vWf antigen, ristocetin cofactor and collagen binding activity. The sedimentation of all of the vWF parameters in the plasma products was slower than in plasma. In plasma products the ristocetin cofactor activity sediments the most rapidly, the collagen binding activity is slower and the antigen the slowest. The collagen/antigen ratio decreases with decreasing vWF size. Assignment of potency to vWF containing preparations utilizing the collagen binding activity may be more precise and as accurate as with the traditional ristocetin cofactor assay.


1984 ◽  
Vol 52 (01) ◽  
pp. 057-059 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Dejana ◽  
M Furlan ◽  
B Barbieri ◽  
M B Donati ◽  
E A Beck

SummaryRat platelets do not respond to ristocetin in their own plasma nor do they aggregate in the presence of bovine or porcine factor VIII von Willebrand factor (F VIII R:WF) or human F VIII R:WF in presence of ristocetin. However, rat plasma supports ristocetin induced aggregation of washed human platelets. In this study we report on purification of rat F VIII R:WF from cryoprecipitate. Similarly to porcine or bovine material, purified rat F VIII R:WF induced aggregation of human washed fixed platelets. This effect was enhanced by addition of ristocetin and was not modified by addition of albumin. Rat washed platelets were aggregated by ristocetin in the presence of rat or human F VIII R:WF provided that high concentrations of ristocetin are added in a system essentially free of extraneous proteins. Increasing concentrations of albumin dramatically reduced the ability of ristocetin to aggregate rat platelets while human platelet aggregation by human or rat F VIII R:WF was only moderately affected.These studies show that rat F VIII R:WF can interact with rat and human platelets. The lack of response of rat platelets to ristocetin in their own plasma is most likely due to a low sensitivity of rat platelets to this drug and to an inhibitory activity of plasma proteins on this reaction.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (10) ◽  
pp. 3378-3384 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ van Genderen ◽  
T Vink ◽  
JJ Michiels ◽  
MB van 't Veer ◽  
JJ Sixma ◽  
...  

Abstract An 82-year-old man with a low-grade malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma and an IgG3 lambda monoclonal gammopathy presented a recently acquired bleeding tendency, characterized by recurrent epistaxis, easy bruising, and episodes of melena, requiring packed red blood cell transfusions. Coagulation studies showed a von Willebrand factor (vWF) defect (Ivy bleeding time, > 15 minutes; vWF antigen [vWF:Ag], 0.08 U/mL; ristocetin cofactor activity [vWF:RCoF], < 0.05 U/mL; collagen binding activity [vWF:CBA], 0.01 U/mL; absence of the high molecular weight multimers of vWF on multimeric analysis). Mixing experiments suggested the presence of an inhibitor directed against the vWF:CBA activity of vWF without significantly inhibiting the FVIII:C, vWF:Ag, and vWF:RCoF activities. The inhibitor was identified as an antibody of the IgM class by immunoabsorption of vWF and inhibitor-vWF complexes from the plasma of the patient. Subsequent immunoprecipitation experiments using recombinant fragments of vWF showed that the inhibitor reacted with both the glycoprotein Ib binding domain (amino acids [aa] 422–826) and the A3 (aa 909–1112) domain of vWF, but not with the A2 (aa 716–908) or D4 (aa 1183–1535) domains. We conclude that the IgM autoantibody inhibits the vWF:CBA activity by reacting with an epitope present on both the glycoprotein Ib and A3 domains of vWF.


Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Michelson ◽  
J Loscalzo ◽  
B Melnick ◽  
BS Coller ◽  
RI Handin

The binding of von Willebrand factor (vWF) to platelet membrane glycoprotein Ib (GpIb) facilitates platelet adhesion to vascular subendothelium. In this study, we provide evidence that the vWF binding site is on glycocalicin (GC), a proteolytic fragment of GpIb, and we examine the role of the carbohydrate portion of GC on that binding. The binding to platelets of 6D1, a monoclonal antibody that recognizes an epitope on GpIb and blocks ristocetin-induced vWF binding to platelets, was inhibited by purified GC. In addition, purified GC inhibited ristocetin-dependent binding of 125I-labeled vWF to platelets. Since GC contains 60% carbohydrate by weight, we assessed the role of carbohydrate sequences on its interaction with antibody 6D1 and vWF. Based on the known sequence of the major oligosaccharide chain of GC--N- acetyl neuraminic acid, galactose, N-acetyl glucosamine, N-acetyl galactosamine--we treated GC sequentially with neuraminidase, beta- galactosidase, and beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. Removal of sialic acid and galactose residues did not affect GC binding. Removal of N-acetyl glucosamine residues did not affect GC binding to 6D1 but did decrease the ability of GC to inhibit vWF binding to platelets, increasing the concentration needed to inhibit binding by 50% (IC50) 40-fold. This suggests that a portion of the oligosaccharide chains on GC contributes to the vWF binding activity of this molecule.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 192-194
Author(s):  
Patrick Harrington ◽  
Pippa Kyle ◽  
Jacky Cutler ◽  
Bella Madan

We present the obstetric history of a family of three sisters with Von Willebrand disease, managed in our centre over the course of nine successful pregnancies. The abnormalities result from inheritance of an exon 50 skipping mutation in the Von Willebrand factor gene, resulting from consanguinity. Two of the sisters were identified as having a severe phenotype with a Von Willebrand factor level of less than 5 IU/dl, with the other having a mild phenotype. Of the sisters with a severe phenotype, one had a number of prenatal complications and required early onset prophylaxis with Von Willebrand factor concentrate, whilst the other had a less complicated clinical course, only requiring Von Willebrand factor concentrate to cover labour. The sister with mild Von Willebrand disease had a rise in Von Willebrand factor levels during pregnancy and required no specialist treatment. The report highlights the markedly different clinical courses that can occur in patients with Von Willebrand disease and the different approaches to management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. M. Oliveira ◽  
M. V. A. Amorim ◽  
C. A. Corsini ◽  
C. C. A. Neto ◽  
D. G. Chaves

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Uemura ◽  
Koichi Kaikita ◽  
Hiroshige Yamabe ◽  
Masakazu Matsukawa ◽  
Kenji Soejima ◽  
...  

Background : Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is released from damaged endothelium, and has a role in platelet aggregation through a receptor on the platelet surface. A metalloprotease that cleaves VWF multimers has been identified, namely, ADAMTS13. We recently reported that the serial changes in plasma VWF and ADAMTS13 antigen levels in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and that the VWF/ADAMTS13 ratio was a useful prognostic indicator of long-term thrombotic events after AMI. Although previous studies have shown raised plasma VWF in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), little is known about the role of ADAMTS13 in the pathogenesis of AF. In the present study, we examined the relation between VWF and ADAMTS13 in AF patients. Methods and Results : We measured the plasma VWF and ADAMTS13 antigen levels by ELISA in 45 AF patients and 49 control subjects, and also performed echocardiography to examine the relations between these markers and left atrial or ventricular functions. The plasma VWF antigen levels were significantly higher in AF patients compared with controls (2017±749 vs. 1504±497 mU/ml, P=0.0002). In contrast, the plasma ADAMTS13 antigen levels were significantly lower in AF patients compared with controls (825±181 vs. 911±193 mU/ml, P=0.03). The VWF/ADAMTS13 ratio was significantly higher in AF patients compared with controls (2.59±1.20 vs. 1.75±0.76, P<0.0001). The number of patients who received aspirin and warfarin was significantly higher in AF group than control subjects, however, those medical therapy did not affect the VWF and ADAMTS13 antigen levels. There was significant positive correlation between VWF antigen levels and the left atrial dimension (n=128, r=0.228, P=0.0095). Furthermore, there was significant negative correlation between VWF antigen levels and the left atrial appendage peak flow velocity measured by transesophageal echocardiography (n=23, r=-0.611, p=0.0015). Conclusions : These findings suggest that the balance between VWF and ADAMTS13 levels may play an important role in the intra-atrial thrombus formation in AF patients. The present results would open a new therapeutic target for prevention of thromboembolic complications in AF.


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