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J Astermark

Publications and source records attributed to J Astermark.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Impact of inhibitor epitope profile on the neutralizing effect against plasma-derived and recombinant factor VIII concentrates in vitro.

The inhibitory capacity of plasma samples from 24 patients with severe haemophilia A and high-responding inhibitors were evaluated in a concentrate-based assay using two plasma-derived (Haemate and Monoclate-P) and three recombinant (Helixate, Recombinate and ReFacto) factor VIII concentrates and correlated with the corresponding epitope profile. In most, but not all, inhibitor plasmas with a relatively low reactivity against the von Willebrand-containing product Haemate, the main epitopes were located in the FVIII light chain. The reactivities within the group of recombinant products varied in that the reactivity against the B-domain deleted ReFacto was in general higher than that against Recombinate and Helixate. This difference did not correlate with any particular epitope profile and indicates that the B-domain, type of formulation and/or purification procedures may have an impact on the inhibitor reactivity in vitro. The ratio between the inhibitor titres in the concentrate-based assay and the Bethesda assay was dependent on the inhibitor plasma and concentrate used. Taken together, our results show that the reactivity of inhibitor plasmas varies considerably between different FVIII concentrates and that it does not fully correlate with the epitope profile. Potential clinical implications of the observed differences in inhibitor reactivity are discussed.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2003

When to start and when to stop primary prophylaxis in patients with severe haemophilia.

Primary prophylactic treatment of patients with severe haemophilia has been shown to reduce the number of bleeding episodes and to minimize the development of arthropathy. However, since the use of clotting factor concentrates is associated with considerable cost and not all patients with severe haemophilia have a severe bleeding phenotype, there is still no consensus about when to start prophylaxis, which dosing regimen to use, and if or when the treatment should be stopped when the patient becomes elderly. Some care providers are also concerned about the use of central venous lines in very young children. Even though most available data indicate that prophylaxis should be started during the first years of life, it may be possible to adjust the dose and dose interval depending on the bleeding pattern. The use of an individualized prophylactic regimen may also improve cost-effectiveness and make the use of this treatment modality more feasible. Studies to further address this issue are warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Consensus perspectives on prophylactic therapy for haemophilia: summary statement.

Participants in an international conference on prophylactic therapy for severe haemophilia developed a consensus summary of the findings and conclusions of the conference. In the consensus, participants agreed upon revised definitions for primary and secondary prophylaxis and also made recommendations concerning the need for an international system of pharmacovigilance. Considerations on starting prophylaxis, monitoring outcomes, and individualizing treatment regimens were discussed. Several research questions were identified as needing further investigation, including when to start and when to stop prophylaxis, optimal dosing and dose interval, and methods for assessment of long-term treatment effects. Such studies should include carefully defined cohorts, validated orthopaedic and quality-of-life assessment instruments, and cost-benefit analyses.

Consensus Statements as Topic↗
PubMed2003

Thrombosis in inherited factor VII deficiency.

Thrombosis in congenital factor (F) VII deficiency was investigated through extensive phenotypic and molecular-genetic studies. Patients with a history of thrombosis among 514 entries in the FVII Deficiency Study Group database were evaluated. Thrombotic events were arterial in one case, disseminated intravascular coagulation in another and venous in seven. Gene mutations were characterized in eight patients: three were homozygous, three compound heterozygous and two heterozygous. FXa and IIa generation assays were consistent with the genetic lesions. One patient was heterozygous for the FV Leiden and one for the FIIG20210A mutation. In seven patients, surgical interventions and/or replacement therapies had a close temporal relationship with thrombosis, while in the remaining, events were apparently spontaneous. Thromboses were not associated with any specific age, phenotype, mutation zygosity or thrombophilic abnormalities. In particular, severe FVII deficiency did not seem to offer protection from strong thrombosis risk factors such as surgery and replacement therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Monitoring the bioavailability of FEIBA with a thrombin generation assay.

BACKGROUND: Hemophilia A patients with inhibitors are generally treated with preparations containing activated coagulation factors to achieve hemostasis by bypassing factor (F)VIII. OBJECTIVES: We developed an assay for monitoring the kinetic of thrombin generation in human FVIII inhibitor plasma reconstituted in vitro with activated prothrombin complex concentrate, FEIBA, and in plasma samples from hemophilia A patients taken after FEIBA treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For pharmacokinetic studies three patients with severe hemophilia A and with a high-titer inhibitor received a single dose of FEIBA. Repeated FEIBA treatment was monitored in one patient with acquired hemophilia A. Coagulation was triggered in citrated plasma by adding a low concentration of tissue factor/phospholipid complex and CaCl2 in the presence of a fluorogenic thrombin substrate. The intensity of the fluorescence signal (FU) was continuously monitored, and the rate of increase in the fluorescence signal for every time point, which reflects the actual thrombin concentrations, was calculated. RESULTS: The maximum rate of substrate conversion, which indicates the highest thrombin concentration, was approximately 1900 FU min(-1) in a normal plasma pool. Practically no thrombin generation was observed in the FVIII inhibitor plasma, but when it was spiked with FEIBA, the rate and the peak of thrombin generation increased dose-dependently to close to normal. Plasma samples from FVIII inhibitor patients treated with a single dose of FEIBA had an improved thrombin maximum within an hour after treatment, which gradually returned to baseline values with a half-life of 4-7 h. Changes in the characteristic parameters of thrombin generation coincided with the repeated administration of FEIBA in a patient with acquired hemophilia A. CONCLUSIONS: This assay enables the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of bypassing therapies to be monitored, thus helping to optimize treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Factor VIII inhibitor-bypassing agents act by inducing thrombin generation and can be monitored by a thrombin generation assay.

Factor VIII (FVIII)-bypassing agents have complex modes of action but all control bleeding in inhibitor patients by triggering the generation of thrombin. No routine test is available for monitoring this therapy in patients with inhibitors against FVIII. We present an assay that records FEIBA- or FVIIa-mediated changes in thrombin generation (TG) in FVIII inhibitor plasma samples. In plasma samples spiked with FEIBA TG was normalized above 0.4 U/ml, while for recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa) more than 12.5 microg/ml were required to induce TG in the absence of tissue factor (TF). Addition of TF increased the TG potential of rFVIIa in vitro. This assay seems suitable for monitoring the pharmacokinetics of inhibitor bypassing agents during treatment and possibly for predicting responses to treatment.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed2002

The prognostic value of global haemostatic tests in the intensive care unit setting.

BACKGROUND: Global haemostatic tests are often abnormal in critically ill patients, secondary to activation or consumption of coagulation factors or inhibitors. Methods for analysing plasma levels of these factors are, however, not widely available, and the predictive value of global tests is not known. We examined the clinical applicability to predict the outcome of the global haemostatic tests used at most hospitals. METHODS: Blood was collected from patients within 6 h of admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) and tested regarding platelet count, International Normalized Ratio (INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Ninety-two patients with platelet counts <100 x 10(9) l(-1), INR > 1.36 and/or APTT >45 s were included in a study group, and an additional 92 patients with a comparable age and sex distribution, but not fulfilling these laboratory criteria, constituted a control group. The following data were recorded for each patient: number of days in the ICU and hospital; alive or deceased when released from the ICU and hospital; survival at 30 days and 180 days. RESULTS: Survival upon discharge from the ICU and hospital was significantly reduced in the study group. This was especially pronounced in patients with medical disorders, whereas the survival rate was slightly higher in surgery patients. Expressing the survival predicting ability of the screening tests as odds ratios for all patients (study and control groups together) indicated that prolonged APTT in particular foretold a lower survival rate at studied time-points after admission to the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: The global haemostatic tests INR and APTT can predict survival in critically ill patients, and prolonged APTT in particular seems to be associated with a negative prognosis.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Prophylactic treatment for severe haemophilia: comparison of an intermediate-dose to a high-dose regimen.

A multicentre study was performed in Sweden and the Netherlands, comparing effects of two prophylactic regimens in 128 patients with severe haemophilia, born 1970-90. 42 Swedish patients (high-dose prophylaxis), were compared with 86 Dutch patients (intermediate-dose prophylaxis). Patients were evaluated at the date of their last radiological score according to Pettersson. Annual clotting factor consumption and bleeding frequency were registered for a period of three years before evaluation. Patients in the high-dose group were younger at evaluation (median 15.2 vs. 17.9 years), started prophylaxis earlier (median 2 vs. 5 years), and used 2.19 times more clotting factor kg-1 year-1. Patients treated with high-dose prophylaxis had fewer joint bleeds (median 0.3 year-1 vs. 3.3 year-1) and the proportion of patients without arthropathy as measured by the Pettersson score was higher (69% vs. 32%), however, the age-adjusted difference in scores (median 0 points vs. 4 points) was small and at present not statistically significant. Clinical scores and quality of life were similar. These findings suggest that, compared with intermediate-dose prophylaxis, high-dose prophylaxis significantly increases treatment costs and reduces joint bleeds over a period of 3 years, but only slightly reduces arthropathy after 17 years of follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Anti- and procoagulant activities in factor VII-deficient subjects.

The clinical feature in patients with congenital factor VII deficiency is in part dependent on the underlying genetic defect, but the mechanisms influencing the genotype-phenotype correlation remain to be fully elucidated. In addition, thromboembolic events have been reported. Compensatory mechanisms involving vitamin K-dependent factors have been suggested. We have measured anticoagulant activities in 25 factor VII-deficient subjects (factor VII activity < or =36%) and 23 age-matched controls and correlated these to the vitamin K-dependent procoagulant activities. Two of the patients had a history of thromboembolism. The factor VII-deficient patients were found to have a significantly lower protein C activity than the controls [0.84 U/ml (95% CI 0.78; 0.89) vs. 0.98 U/ml (95% CI 0.91; 1.05), P=.004]. In addition, the protein C activity was correlated to that of factor VII (r=.36; P=.014), factor IX (r=.45; P=.002) and factor X (r=.50; P=.0006), respectively. The level of prothrombin fragment 1+2 was correlated to the protein C (r=.40; P=.012) and to the factor VII activity (r=.42; P=.011). No differences between patients and controls were seen regarding total and free protein S, antithrombin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). Seven of the patients were found to have the Factor V Leiden mutation, but none of them had experienced any thromboembolic event. The present data support the notion that compensatory hemostatic mechanisms might exist in that the protein C activity was found to be decreased in the factor VII-deficient subjects. Whether this could influence the clinical feature, including the risk of thromboembolic events in association with replacement therapy, remains to be evaluated.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗
PubMed2001

The Malmö International Brother Study (MIBS): further support for genetic predisposition to inhibitor development in hemophilia patients.

The issue of factors predisposing for inhibitor development in haemophilia patients is still largely unresolved. In an attempt to address this problem, we initiated a registry in 1996 of siblings with haemophilia and with or without a history of inhibitors. Four hundred and sixty families have accrued, of whom 388 suffer from haemophilia A and 72 haemophilia B. Twenty-five of the brother pairs are twins. The inhibitor incidence in all families with severe haemophilia A was 31.7%. The corresponding figure in the caucasian patients was 27.4%, whereas a higher incidence of inhibitors was reported in the black subjects (55.6%). Twins were reported in six of the 100 inhibitor families, for whom monozygocity was confirmed in three cases. In 32 families (32%), at least two brothers had a history of inhibitors. In 22 (69%) of these families, the inhibitor was also of the same type, i.e. either high- or low-responding. The overall concordance within the severe haemophilia A families was found to be 78.3% (195/249) compared to an expected figure of 68.0% and 58.0% using an inhibitor incidence of 20 and 30%, respectively (P < 0.0001). The corresponding figure for the twins was 88.2% (15/17). Moreover, the risk for inhibitor development in families with a previous inhibitor history was found to be 48% (95% confidence interval [CI] 35-62%), whereas the risk in families with no previous known inhibitor was only 15% (95% CI 11-21%) corresponding to a relative risk of 3.2 (95% CI 2.1-4.9). Immune-tolerance induction was reported in 24 families, of whom 13 siblings were successfully treated. Our data clearly support the concept that a genetic predisposition for inhibitor development exists. However, the markers of this predisposition remain to be elucidated and we believe that the MIBS registry will be useful for this purpose.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2001

Complexes between activated protein C and protein C inhibitor measured with a new method: comparison of performance with other markers of hypercoagulability in the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis.

A first clinical evaluation has been made of the performance of a newly devised immunofluorometric assay for measuring plasma concentrations of activated protein C (APC) in complex with protein C inhibitor (PCI). The method was compared with testing for other markers of hypercoagulability in a case-control study comprising 123 patients with clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The diagnosis was confirmed by ascending phlebography, and the thrombotic burden estimated with a newly developed scoring system. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves calculated to demonstrate the discriminatory capacity of the methods, showed the area under the curves (AUCs) to be similar for the APC-PCI and D-dimer methods. However, in contrast to the D-dimer method, the APC-PCI method measures a well-defined analyte, a prerequisite for reliable comparisons of future clinical studies. The APC-PCI method appears to be particularly useful as a marker for detection of recently developed proximal thrombi.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗
PubMed2000

Correlation between different intensities of anti-vitamin K treatment and coagulation parameters.

In order to study the effect of different intensities of anti-vitamin K treatment on coagulation parameters, 23 patients with venous thromboembolism were given, after the initial treatment period, warfarin at doses giving an International Normalised Ratio of 1.3-2.0 for 4 weeks, and of 1.1-1.3 for another 4 weeks. Blood samples were taken at the end of each of these periods and 4 weeks after the end of warfarin treatment. The vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors VII, IX, and X, as well as the inhibitor protein C and its cofactor protein S, all showed a highly significant correlation with treatment intensity. This was to some extent also true for the coagulation activation markers, prothrombin fragment 1+2 and thrombin-antithrombin complex. Ratios of pro- and anticoagulant factors in some instances showed a decrease at therapeutical (International Normalised Ratio) levels, and also sometimes with reduced warfarin treatment intensity. Taken together, our results encourage further research addressing issues of varying treatment intensity with warfarin and alternative methods for monitoring of anti-vitamin K treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The Malmö model for immune tolerance induction: impact of previous treatment on outcome.

Ten patients, who had been treated according to the Malmö model for immune tolerance induction (ITI), were analysed regarding treatment with clotting factors and chemotherapy during the time period between inhibitor detection and ITI. Of the patients who were successfully rendered tolerant (n=6) all but one had received treatment with FVIII, either alone (n=1), or combined with cyclophosphamide (n=4). Of the patients who did not become tolerant, three of four had received treatment with FVIII during the inhibitor period but only one with FVIII and chemotherapy. The total amount of treatment received was in general much lower in the group that did not become tolerant. In individual cases, it appeared very clear that the inhibitor level and anamnestic response was substantially reduced prior to the ITI using the Malmö treatment model. We conclude that treatment of acute bleeds during the inhibitor period may be of importance for ITI and that the different response rates published for different immune tolerance regimens most likely do not reflect the true response rate for the respective regimen.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Immune tolerance induction and the treatment of hemophilia. Malmö protocol update.

The Malmö protocol for immune tolerance induction includes high doses of Factor VIII/IX, intravenous IgG and cyclophosphamide. If the inhibitor titer exceeds 10 Bethesda units at start, extracorporeal adsorption of IgG is performed using protein A. The protocol sometimes has to be repeated. A successful response may occur within a few weeks. In hemophilia A the success rate so far is 10/17 patients (15 high-responders, 2 low-responders) or 59%, whereas in hemophilia B 6/9 patients (8 high-responders, 1 low-responder), or 67%, have become tolerant. In one hemophilia B patient, a relapse occurred after 6 months. During a second treatment episode he developed an acute myocardial infarction, probably caused by replacement with prothrombin complex concentrate. We conclude that the Malmö protocol is efficient for induction of immune tolerance but the patients must be selected particularly with regard to inhibitor duration and time of last booster.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Primary prophylaxis in severe haemophilia should be started at an early age but can be individualized.

The frequency of joint bleeds and orthopaedic joint scores were evaluated in 121 patients with severe haemophilia who had started prophylactic treatment with clotting factor concentrates at least once weekly before the age of 10. 75 of the patients started before the age of 3, 31 at the age of 3-5 and 15 at the age of 6-9. Each subgroup was evaluated separately. In addition, a regimen of one infusion weekly was compared with that of two (haemophilia B) or three (haemophilia A) infusions weekly in each patient. A significant decrease in the overall number of joint bleeds per year was found after shortening the infusion interval (P<0.005), but the individual bleeding pattern varied. In survival analysis of the first pathologic joint score event, those who started prophylaxis before the age of 3 had a better outcome overall than those starting at later ages (P=0.001). However, in subgroup analysis, no significant difference was seen in the annual number of joint bleeds and the development of arthropathy between those starting with, or shifting to, the more intensive regimen before the age of 3 and those that were put on this regimen at the age of 3-5. Age at start of prophylaxis was found to be an independent predictor for the development of arthropathy (P=0.0002), whereas dose and infusion interval at start were not. Our data emphasize the importance of starting replacement therapy during the first years of life. However, it seems that when beginning the regimen it can be individualized and adjusted according to the bleeding pattern. In this way, the need for a venous access system may be assessed on an individual basis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1999

Malmö International Brother Study (MIBS): an international survey of brother pairs with haemophilia.

Malmö International Brother Study (MIBS) was initiated in 1996 in order to set up an international registry of twins and non-twin brothers with haemophilia and to search for genetic and compound factors predisposing for inhibitor development. As of July, 1997, 178 brother pairs are registered (143 haemophilia A and 35 haemophilia B patients). Sixteen of these pairs are twins. In 48 of the brother pairs (27%) there is a history of inhibitors, in 25 of them involving only one of the brothers. Immune tolerance induction has been attempted in 13 brother pairs (27%) and in four pairs the inhibitor has been eradicated. Additional demographic data need to be collected and, if possible plasma, IgG and DNA samples will be taken from inhibitor patients to serve as a tool for basic inhibitor experiments.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1999

The proportion of carboxylated to total or intact osteocalcin in serum discriminates warfarin-treated patients from control subjects.

We assessed the serum concentration of gamma-carboxylated osteocalcin (OC), total OC, and full-length OC in a clinical setting of 37 patients on continuous warfarin treatment (international normalized ratio 2.0-3.8). A comparison was done with the results from 30 untreated age-matched controls. Four monoclonal antibodies, previously generated and characterized as to their ability to recognize different human OC forms and fragments, were used in three two-site immunofluorometric assays. The warfarin-treated patients had significantly lower levels of carboxylated OC 4.9 +/- 3.8 (+/- 1 SD) ng/ml compared with the controls 13.1 +/- 9.7 (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in the levels of total OC or full-length OC between the two groups of patients. A strong correlation was found between the serum concentration of carboxylated OC and total OC, both for the warfarin-treated patients (r = 0.98) and for the controls (r = 0.99). There was a distinct cut-off level at 0.80, in the quotient carboxylated OC/total OC, at which all warfarin-treated patients fell below and all controls above this level. Hence, the concentration or ratio of serum gamma-carboxylated OC in clinical settings such as warfarin-treated patients could be measured using two-site immunoassays.

Aged↗