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C Biron-Andréani

Publications and source records attributed to C Biron-Andréani.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunonephelometric determination of fibrinogen on citrated or heparinized plasma: comparison with functional Clauss method.

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen is routinely determined by functional assay on citrated plasma in the hematology department. However, immunoassay can be performed easily with nephelometric analyzer in the clinical chemistry laboratory allowing automatization. The aim of this study was first to compare the clotting von Clauss method (activity assay) with an immunonephelometric method (antigen assay) on the BN ProSpec (Dade Behring). Moreover, we evaluated the possibility of collecting blood samples on heparin to facilitate blood collection for clinicians and reduce required blood collection volumes for dosages. METHODS: In a first step of experiment, the accuracy of immunonephelometric analytical performance was tested on heparinized and citrated tubes. For comparison studies, fibrinogen activity was then determined on citrated tubes in the hematology department and antigen measurement was performed on both citrated and heparinized plasma from 130 consecutive patients. RESULTS: As a result, the immunonephelometric method shows reliable performance and clinical sample measurements are not affected by the method used, validating the use of heparinized plasma samples for fibrinogen antigen determination with Dade Behring reagents.

Blood Specimen Collection↗

Acquired haemophilia in the elderly is a severe disease: report of five new cases.

Acquired haemophilia is a rare but life-threatening bleeding disease that can be observed in males or females at various ages. In the present study, we report on five cases of acquired factor (F) VIII inhibitors diagnosed in the elderly population over a period of 5 years between 1995 and 1999 in our hospital. The median age of the patients at the time of diagnosis was 76.2 years (66-92 years). In all cases, the diagnosis was suggested by mild to severe bleeding with no previous bleeding history. While the absence of associated conditions is frequently reported especially among the elderly, in our series an underlying disease was found in four out of the five cases: kidney tumour (two cases) and autoimmune disease (two cases). The bleeding was controlled in four patients using porcine FVIII (two cases) or recombinant FVIIa (two cases). The inhibitors were completely resolved in two patients (kidney tumour, GoodPasture syndrome) by treatment of the underlying disease. However, three patients died as direct or indirect consequence of having an inhibitor. Our series confirms and extends previous data reporting the complexity and severity of this disorder. Because bleeding is often severe, a prompt and correct diagnosis is required to provide adequate therapeutic options that take the advanced age of the patients into account.

Aged↗

Antiphospholipid antibodies in alcoholic liver disease are influenced by histological damage but not by alcohol consumption.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been detected in various liver diseases, particularly cirrhosis. The role of alcoholic consumption per se has been suggested. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of aPL in patients with alcoholic liver disease at various states and to correlate the presence of aPL with both liver injury and alcoholic consumption. Three groups were prospectively included. Group A: 74 controls (age- and sex-matched); group B: 46 patients with alcoholic steatosis; group C: 28 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. For each patient, lupus anticoagulant, anticardiolipin antibodies and anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies were tested. The prevalence of aPL (presence of at least one positive test) was 5% in group A, 20% in group B and 50% in group C (P < 0.04). No correlation appeared between aPL and Child Pugh score in group C. No correlation was found between the presence of aPL and alcohol intake in patients with either steatosis or cirrhosis. Our study confirms that aPL positivity is more frequently encountered in patients with alcoholic liver disease than in controls. Their prevalence increases with the degree of histological damage but not with the level of alcoholic intake.

Adult↗

Amniotic fluid embolism with haemostasis complications: primary fibrinogenolysis or disseminated intravascular coagulation?

Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is characterized by the passage of amniotic fluid (AF) into the maternal circulation during or just after childbirth. AFE is a rare disorder occurring in 1/8,000 to 1/80,000 deliveries but with a maternal morbidity ranging from 26% in a recent report to 86% in earlier ones. In patients who survive, AFE may affect coagulation resulting in severe bleeding. While disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is usually seen in such cases, we reported a case of AFE in which the hemostatic abnormalities were compatible with primary fibrinogenolysis rather than with DIC.

Adult↗

[Primary hemostasis exploration].

Primary hemostasis exploration involves many tests, but most of them are highly specialized. Meanwhile, a few simple and reliable assays can make possible a first orientation of the diagnosis in a routine laboratory. This review is organized in four parts. It highlights the importance of pre-analytical steps when exploring hemostasis, especially a carefully conducted clinical history and blood collecting conditions. It first presents the tests involved in the global exploration: the platelet count, the bleeding time, the occlusion time and the prothrombin consumption test. Then, this review presents the tests essential for the diagnosis of thrombocytopenia, von Willebrand disease and platelet disorders. Finally, we discussed about the limits and the future of diagnosis in primary hemostasis, and more particularly about endothelial cells and the adhesion proteins that are implicated.

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗