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K Peerlinck

Publications and source records attributed to K Peerlinck.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Review of the hepatitis A epidemics in hemophiliacs in Europe.

A recent increased incidence of hepatitis A in the hemophilia populations of Italy, Germany, Belgium and Ireland was studied. The first well-documented outbreak occurred in Italy, where 51 patients with severe hemophilia contracted hepatitis A between the years 1989 and 1992. A case-control study by Mannucci et al. of the first 29 consecutive cases of hemophilia patients with jaundice led to the conclusion that hepatitis A was transmitted to Italian hemophilia patients by solvent-detergent-treated, ion-exchange-purified concentrate. In a retrospective serologic study of the German epidemic, Brakmann et al. isolated 18 seroconversions in a study group of 195 hemophilia patients over a 5-year period. Although several types of concentrate were used in Germany during this time, all but 1 infected patient received large doses of solvent-detergent, ion-exchange product. It was revealed that the 1 exception had a brother with hemophilia who had received solvent-detergent-prepared concentrate and had developed hepatitis A. Transmission to the study patient was therefore attributed to household contact. The Belgian experience corroborated the findings of the Italian and German investigators: several batches of factor VIII, prepared from plasma of Belgian donors in Lille, France, and Vienna, Austria, appeared to be associated with hepatitis A infection, mainly in hemophilia patients who had received large infusions. An interesting observation in the later (1993) case-control portion of the Belgian study was that hepatitis A virus antibodies were less prevalent in hemophilia patients than in age-matched controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Belgium↗

Is the apparent outbreak of hepatitis A in Belgian hemophiliacs due to a loss of previous passive immunity?

Several reports describing outbreaks of hepatitis A in hemophilia A patients transfused with solvent/detergent-treated factor VIII concentrates have raised concern about possible transmission of hepatitis A by these concentrates. We recently witnessed such an outbreak of hepatitis A in 6 hemophilia A patients; review of the clinical data did not disclose any increased risk factor for community-acquired hepatitis A. A case-control study comparing the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A IgG antibodies in hemophiliacs and age-matched controls showed a lower seroprevalence in hemophiliacs. This might be due to passive protection acquired through transfusion of the previously used immunoglobulin-containing cryoprecipitate. The outbreak of hepatitis A could be explained as a catch-up phenomenon linked to the loss of passive protection with the use of purer factor VIII concentrates.

Adolescent↗

Failure to detect hepatitis A virus RNA in factor VIII concentrates using the polymerase chain reaction. Results of a preliminary study.

The transmission of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection to recipients of some batches of Factor VIII has recently been reported. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of HAV RNA in factor VIII concentrates. Primer sequences used were derived from a consensus of published sequences in the 5' non coding region; a nested PCR was used to increase sensitivity and specificity and the resulting fragment was 151 base pairs in length. The PCR was initially validated in clinical samples and only IgM anti-HAV positive patient samples and a sample of liver tissue from a patient who required liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis A were HAV PCR positive. Other samples tested included those that were IgG anti-HAV positive; these were found to be PCR negative. In an investigation of coagulation factor VIII concentrates by HAV PCR, 40 batches of solvent/detergent-treated high-purity concentrate from four different manufacturers, including one batch of factor VIII possibly implicated in HAV transmission, and a further 3 batches of monoclonal antibody purified factor VIII were all HAV PCR negative. Gel chromatography material, before and after use in factor VIII purification, and eluates from this material were also negative for HAV RNA. Our preliminary results therefore suggest that either the contamination of factor VIII concentrates by HAV RNA is an extremely rare event or that the PCR is insufficiently sensitive to detect an infective HAV dose since each batch of factor VIII concentrate would have been derived from a plasma pool consisting of 10,000 donations, or more and the resulting concentration of virus may be 10(2) or less.

Base Sequence↗

Hemophilia B Leyden: substitution of thymine for guanine at position -21 results in a disruption of a hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 binding site in the factor IX promoter.

Hemophilia B Leyden is an X chromosome-linked bleeding disorder characterized by an altered developmental expression of blood coagulation factor IX. This form of hemophilia B has been found to be associated with a variety of single point mutations in the factor IX promoter region. We now describe a novel point mutation, T-->G at position -21, in two related patients with the hemophilia B Leyden phenotype. This mutation lies within the factor IX promoter region (-40 to -9) that contains overlapping binding sites for hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) and androgen receptor. Transient transfection assays in HepG2 cells show that the -21 mutation causes a significant reduction in factor IX promoter activity. Gel mobility shift assays and transient cotransfection experiments revealed that the HNF-4-binding site but not the androgen-responsive element is disrupted by the -21 mutation. A comparison of the -21 mutation with the previously described -20 T-->A mutation (associated with the hemophilia B Leyden phenotype) and -26 G-->C mutation (associated with severe hemophilia B throughout life) was made. It shows that the -21 mutation reduced HNF-4 binding and transactivation to a similar level as the -20 mutation, whereas the -26 mutation completely abolished HNF-4 binding and transactivation. Mobility shift experiments indicate that there was no significant difference in binding affinity of recombinant androgen receptor protein for oligonucleotides containing wild-type and -21 or -20 mutated DNA. The binding affinity for the oligonucleotide containing the -26 mutation was twofold lower. The results indicate that the disruption of the HNF-4-binding site by the -21 T-->G mutation is the cause of the bleeding disorder in these two patients. This study adds further support for the notion that the recovery from hemophilia at puberty may not only be related to an intact androgen-responsive element but also to the degree of disruption of the HNF-4-binding site.

Base Sequence↗

Incidence of inhibitor development in a group of young hemophilia A patients treated exclusively with lyophilized cryoprecipitate.

The incidence of neutralizing isoantibody formation to infused factor VIII in a cohort of 67 hemophilia A patients, born between January 1, 1971 and April 30, 1990, who had been treated exclusively with lyophilized cryoprecipitate, was 6% (5.3 per 1,000 patient years of observation). The age-dependent cumulative risk was 4.6% at 4 years of age and 6.7% at 8 years of age. Recent reports in patients treated with a variety of more pure concentrates show a much higher incidence of inhibitor formation and tend to be used as a reference when new concentrates are introduced. We believe that a patient group, such as the one studied here, is a more suitable reference population because these patients have been exclusively treated with a single factor VIII preparation.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

A higher than expected incidence of factor VIII inhibitors in multitransfused haemophilia A patients treated with an intermediate purity pasteurized factor VIII concentrate.

In May 1990, 218 patients with haemophilia A regularly attending the Leuven Haemophilia Center were randomly assigned to a group receiving either of two newly introduced factor VIII concentrates: factor VIII-P, an intermediate purity pasteurized concentrate, or factor VIII-SD, a high purity concentrate treated with solvent-detergent for viral inactivation. Patients were followed from May 1990 until October 1991. Between August 1991 and October 1991 a clinically important factor VIII inhibitor was detected in five out of the 109 patients receiving factor VIII-P while none of the 109 patients receiving factor VIII-SD developed such antibodies. All patients acquiring an inhibitor had previously been clinically tolerant to transfused factor VIII with 200 to more than 1,000 days of exposure to factor VIII prior to May 1990. Patients with inhibitors were transfused daily with 30 U factor VIII-SD per kg body weight, which was associated with a gradual decline of the inhibitor level. In all patients the antibodies were relatively slow-acting and predominantly directed towards the light chain of factor VIII. This study demonstrates a higher than expected incidence of factor VIII inhibitors associated with the use of a specific factor VIII concentrate in multitransfused haemophilia A patients. It indicates the usefulness of evaluating newly introduced concentrates in prospective, randomized trials.

Adolescent↗

MK-383 (L-700,462), a selective nonpeptide platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist, is active in man.

BACKGROUND: Fibrinogen-dependent cross-linking of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa on activated platelets is the final mechanism leading to platelet aggregation. Inhibition of this mechanism may result in a novel antithrombotic agent. We studied the activity of MK-383 (L-700,462), a new, nonpeptide GPIIb/IIIa antagonist, in vitro and in vivo, in man. METHODS AND RESULTS: MK-383, a nonpeptide tyrosine derivative, dose-dependently inhibited fibrinogen-dependent platelet aggregation, in vitro. Binding of 125I-labeled fibrinogen to activated platelets was prevented in a competitive manner with an IC50 of 10 +/- 4.2 nmol/L. The activity and tolerability of MK-383 were evaluated in a two-part double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation study in healthy male subjects using 1- and 4-hour intravenous infusions. Effects on ADP- and collagen-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation (APA or CPA) and template bleeding time (TBT) were evaluated. Twenty-four subjects participated in the 1-hour part. Six received placebo and 18 MK-383 in doses ranging from 0.05 to 0.40 microgram.kg-1 x min-1. MK-383 inhibited platelet aggregation and prolonged bleeding time in a dose-dependent manner. APA and CPA were totally inhibited at the end of infusion of 0.4 microgram.kg-1 x min-1 and returned to 55% and 89% of baseline, respectively, at 3 hours after infusion. TBT was prolonged at this dose from 5.0 +/- 1.3 minutes predose to 22.7 +/- 6 minutes at the end of the infusion (P < .01) and was normalized by 3 hours after infusion. In the 4-hour infusion part, 15 subjects received MK-383 (0.1 to 0.2 microgram.kg-1 x min-1), and five received placebo. Complete inhibition of ex vivo platelet aggregation was seen at 0.15 and 0.2 microgram.kg-1 x min-1. At 0.2 microgram.kg-1 x min-1, TBT was prolonged from 4.4 +/- 1.2 to 23.9 +/- 4.3 minutes at the end of infusion (P < .01) and remained slightly prolonged 3 hours after infusion (7.2 +/- 1.8 minutes). No adverse effects were observed in any of the 33 subjects receiving MK-383. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study indicate that MK-383 appears to be well tolerated and active in man. It is the first nonpeptide GPIIb/IIIa antagonist that can be used to investigate the antithrombotic potential of this new class of antiplatelet agents.

Bleeding Time↗

A monoclonal antibody recognizes a von Willebrand factor domain within the amino-terminal portion of the subunit that modulates the function of the glycoprotein IB- and IIB/IIIA-binding domains.

We developed a monoclonal antibody, 1C1E7, against vWf that increases ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner and lowers the threshold concentration of ristocetin needed to obtain a full aggregatory response. The platelet aggregatory effect of asialo vWf (ASvWf) also is enhanced by 1C1E7, in the presence or absence of glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor antagonism. In the presence of ristocetin, both intact 1C1E7 and its Fab fragments enhance specific binding of 125I-vWf to platelets. With 1C1E7, the intermediate and higher molecular weight multimers of vWf are preferentially bound to both GP Ib and GP IIb/IIIa. Thrombin-induced 125I-vWf binding to GP IIb/IIIa also is increased by 1C1E7. Maximal binding of 1C1E7 to vWf corresponds to 0.97 mol/mol vWf monomer with a Kd of 4.7 x 10(-10) M. 1C1E7 reacts with a 34/36-kD tryptic fragment (III-T4) and a 34-kD plasmic fragment (P34), which localizes the epitope between amino acid residues 1 and 272; this was confirmed by NH2-terminal amino acid sequencing. Finally, platelet aggregation by ASvWf was associated with a sharp rise in intracellular Ca2+ only in the presence of 1C1E7. An antibody-mediated conformational change of vWf may result in an improved presentation of the GP Ib- and GP IIb/IIIa-binding domains of mainly the larger multimers; the increased density of vWf on the platelet surface leads to platelet activation. The antibody may thus recognize a domain of relevance for vWf physiology.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A patient with von Willebrand's disease characterized by a compound heterozygosity for a substitution of Arg854 by Gln in the putative factor-VIII-binding domain of von Willebrand factor (vWF) on one allele and very low levels of mRNA from the second vWF allele.

We describe a patient with a lifelong bleeding disorder previously classified as von Willebrand's disease (vWD) type I. The factor VIII (FVIII) level in this patient was disproportionately low and we showed that this was due to a decreased factor VIII binding capacity of her vWF. To characterize the molecular defect in this type of vWD, a cDNA-dependent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was performed using platelet RNA as a template. Direct sequencing of the amplified fragment, which encodes for the FVIII-binding domain, showed a single nucleotide change in exon 20 at codon 854, resulting in the substitution of CAG glutamine (Gln) for CGG arginine (Arg). At the level of the cDNA only the mutated sequence was found, whereas at genomic DNA level the patient was heterozygous for this mutation. This patient is therefore a compound heterozygote for a point mutation resulting in a FVIII-binding defect and a vWF allele with low transcript levels.

Adult↗

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of two factor VIII concentrates virally inactivated by solvent-detergent or by pasteurization.

The present study compares two new factor VIII preparations currently used in the treatment of haemophilia. A Factor VIII was partially purified from plasma obtained from unpaid voluntary Belgian donors in the blood transfusion centers of Lille and Amsterdam and virus-inactivated by exposure to solvent-detergent (FVIII-SD) or by pasteurization (FVIII-P) respectively. The factor VIII content and the purity of both preparations were assessed in vitro, whereas in vivo we studied the recovery and the plasma half-life of both concentrates. The higher purity of FVIII-SD was confirmed. Factor VIII-P preparations contained more factor VIII than mentioned on the label. Both preparations gave good in vivo recoveries and half-lives. Patients who did not have antibodies to hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV at the initial screening, remained negative after six months treatment with the new concentrates. No patients developed neutralizing factor VIII antibodies. Furthermore patients appreciated the ease of administration of both preparations. In conclusion both FVIII concentrates are suited for the treatment of haemophilia A patients.

Antibodies, Viral↗

A vitamin K antagonist rapidly reverses a blue toe syndrome in a patient with lupus anticoagulant and antiprothrombin antibodies.

A 30-year old male was admitted to the hospital with extremely painful blueish discoloration of his toes. After clinical and laboratory evaluation the diagnosis of a blue toe syndrome due to primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) was made. Complete resolution of the blue toe syndrome occurred within 72 hours following 9 mg phenprocoumon. APS consists of the association of lupus anticoagulant or antiphospholipid antibodies with arterial or venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and spontaneous abortion. The exact pathways leading to thrombosis are still unknown. Our group has previously proposed that membrane-associated immune complexes contribute towards clinical symptoms in the antiphospholipid syndrome. The case presented strengthens that concept.

Adult↗

MR imaging of intra-osseous hemophilic pseudotumor: case report and review ofthe literature.

Hemophilic pseudotumor (PT) is a very rare complication of hemophilia consisting of a chronic, encapsulated, hemorrhagic fluid collection occurring both in the soft tissues and/or bone. Radiological features of osseous hemophilic PT are nonspecific and mimic several other benign or malignant bone tumors, or infectious processes. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings of PT involving the bone are only rarely described. The appearance on MRI seems non-specific, but invariably there are heterogeneous low- and high-signal intensity areas on both pulse sequences, reflecting the presence of blood products in various stages of evolution. Although the diagnosis is usually made on the location of the lesion and by the knowledge of the underlying disease, the radiologist should be aware of the imaging characteristics, in order to avoid misinterpretation as a tumoral or infectious lesion, as biopsy of these lesions is contraindicated.

Hematoma↗