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Biomedical subjects

P M Mannucci

Publications and source records attributed to P M Mannucci.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Biochemical characterization of a recombinant von Willebrand factor (VWF) with combined type 2B and type 1 defects in the VWF gene in two patients with a type 2A phenotype of von Willebrand disease.

BACKGROUND: In a patient previously diagnosed with type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD) [absence of high and intermediate molecular weight von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers and markedly reduced ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA)], an infusion test of desmopressin was followed by mild thrombocytopenia. This led to further laboratory investigations of his affected brother and of family members, who showed different phenotypic patterns compatible with type 1, 2A, 2B and an uncertain classification of VWD. The two brothers were compound heterozygotes (C275R/P1337L), whereas the others members of the family were heterozygous for C275R (a novel mutation in the D1 domain) or P1337L (a type 2B mutation in the A1 domain). OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: To evaluate the role of the combined effect of the two mutations in the two brothers, C275R and P1337L recombinant (r) VWFs were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. RESULTS: Recombinant VWF levels secreted in cell media were similar for wild-type (WT), P1337L and hybrid P1337L/WT rVWFs, reduced for hybrids C275R/P1337L and C275R/WT rVWFs, and strongly reduced for C275R rVWF. All rVWFs had a full set of multimers except C275R rVWF, which had only dimers. P1337L rVWF and C275R/P1337L rVWF showed the highest degree of binding to glycoprotein (GP) Ibalpha and the lowest to collagen, followed by P1337L/WT rVWF (with an intermediate level of binding to both ligands), and by WT rVWF with the lowest level of binding to GPIbalpha and the highest to collagen. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the two compound heterozygous patients have a circulating VWF mainly mutated in the A1 domain (P1337L). This peculiar type 2B VWF variant showed a remarkably high affinity for the GPIbalpha platelet receptor, leading to the loss of high and intermediate molecular weight multimers and hence to decreased RIPA, as in type 2A VWD.

Collagen↗

Effects of exposure to air pollution on blood coagulation.

BACKGROUND: Consistent evidence has indicated that air pollution increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The underlying mechanisms linking air pollutants to increased cardiovascular risk are unclear. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between the pollution levels and changes in such global coagulation tests as the prothrombin time (PT) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in 1218 normal subjects from the Lombardia Region, Italy. Plasma fibrinogen and naturally occurring anticoagulant proteins were also evaluated. METHODS: Hourly concentrations of particulate (PM10) and gaseous pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, and O3) were obtained from 53 monitoring sites covering the study area. Generalized additive models were applied to compute standardized regression coefficients controlled for age, gender, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, hormone use, temperature, day of the year, and long-term trends. RESULTS: The PT became shorter with higher ambient air concentrations at the time of the study of PM10 (coefficient = -0.06; P < 0.05), CO (coefficient = -0.11; P < 0.001) and NO2 (coefficient =-0.06; P < 0.05). In the 30 days before blood sampling, the PT was also negatively associated with the average PM(10) (coefficient = -0.08; P < 0.05) and NO2 (coefficient = -0.08; P < 0.05). No association was found between the APTT and air pollutant levels. In addition, no consistent relations with air pollution were found for fibrinogen, antithrombin, protein C and protein S. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation shows that air pollution is associated with changes in the global coagulation function, suggesting a tendency towards hypercoagulability after short-term exposure to air pollution. Whether these changes contribute to trigger cardiovascular events remains to be established.

Adolescent↗

Type and location of venous thromboembolism in patients with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A and in those with no thrombophilia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with factor (F) V Leiden or the prothrombin G20210A polymorphism are at increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). On the other hand, the risk of developing pulmonary embolism (PE) appears to be low in carriers of FV Leiden, perhaps because of a lower tendency to develop iliofemoral DVT than non-carriers. For prothrombin G20210A, data are scanty and controversial. METHODS: The clinical manifestations (isolated DVT, DVT and PE, and isolated PE), the extension of DVT, and the presence of transient risk factors were retrospectively investigated in 115 patients with heterozygous FV Leiden, 87 with prothrombin G20210A and 200 with no thrombophilia marker. RESULTS: Isolated symptomatic PE was less prevalent in patients with FV Leiden (6%) than in those with prothrombin G20210A (21%) and no thrombophilia (23%) (P > 0.0001). The rate of distal DVT was higher in patients with no thrombophilia (16% vs. 7% for FV Leiden and 6% for prothrombin G20210A) (P = 0.02). No difference in the incidence of PE from distal and proximal DVT, the extension of proximal DVT and the type of transient risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) was found in the three groups. Patients with prothrombin G20210A had a younger age at their first VTE (24 years, P < 0.0001) and a higher rate of DVT accompanying PE (P = 0.04) than those with FV Leiden or no thrombophilia. CONCLUSIONS: Carriers of prothrombin G20210A, unlike those of FV Leiden, have an increased risk of developing isolated PE. This difference was not explained by a different rate of distal DVT, extension of proximal DVT, or distribution of transient risk factors in the two groups. Patients with prothrombin G20210A have more severe clinical manifestations than those with FV Leiden or no thrombophilia.

Adenine↗

Prothrombin A19911G polymorphism and the risk of venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: The A > G polymorphism at position 19911 of the prothrombin gene is associated with increased plasma prothrombin levels but its role as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is not established. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of prothrombin 19911 A > G polymorphism in the risk of VTE in patients with heterozygous prothrombin 20210GA or factor (F) V Leiden and in those without thrombophilia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case-control study of 793 patients with prothrombin 20210 GA (n = 167) or FV Leiden (n = 198), and without thrombophilia (n = 428), and of 795 healthy individuals with the corresponding coagulation profile, investigated for the presence of prothrombin 19911 A > G. Plasma prothrombin levels were measured in 342 individuals. RESULTS: Prothrombin 19911 A > G did not increase the risk of VTE in carriers of prothrombin 20210 GA [odds ratio (OR) 1.2, 95% CI (95% CI) 0.8-1.8] but significantly increased the risk in carriers of FV Leiden (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.4) and in patients without thrombophilia (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0-2.2). Higher plasma prothrombin levels in carriers of prothrombin 19911 A > G polymorphism than in non-carriers were found among individuals without thrombophilia (P =0.05) and with FV Leiden (P = 0.07), but not in carriers of prothrombin 20210 GA (P = 0.2). CONCLUSIONS: Prothrombin 19911 A > G polymorphism was independently associated with a 1.5-fold increased risk of VTE and increased 2-fold the risk of VTE associated with FV Leiden, both increases statistically significant. No effect was observed in carriers of prothrombin 20210 GA, perhaps because this polymorphism has a stronger influence on plasma prothrombin levels than the prothrombin 19911 polymorphism.

Adenine↗

Update on the pathophysiology and classification of von Willebrand disease: a report of the Subcommittee on von Willebrand Factor.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a bleeding disorder caused by inherited defects in the concentration, structure, or function of von Willebrand factor (VWF). VWD is classified into three primary categories. Type 1 includes partial quantitative deficiency, type 2 includes qualitative defects, and type 3 includes virtually complete deficiency of VWF. VWD type 2 is divided into four secondary categories. Type 2A includes variants with decreased platelet adhesion caused by selective deficiency of high-molecular-weight VWF multimers. Type 2B includes variants with increased affinity for platelet glycoprotein Ib. Type 2M includes variants with markedly defective platelet adhesion despite a relatively normal size distribution of VWF multimers. Type 2N includes variants with markedly decreased affinity for factor VIII. These six categories of VWD correlate with important clinical features and therapeutic requirements. Some VWF gene mutations, alone or in combination, have complex effects and give rise to mixed VWD phenotypes. Certain VWD types, especially type 1 and type 2A, encompass several pathophysiologic mechanisms that sometimes can be distinguished by appropriate laboratory studies. The clinical significance of this heterogeneity is under investigation, which may support further subdivision of VWD type 1 or type 2A in the future.

ADAM Proteins↗

Occurrence of inhibitors in previously untreated or minimally treated patients with haemophilia A after exposure to a plasma-derived solvent-detergent factor VIII concentrate.

A solvent-detergent virus-inactivated plasma-derived FVIII concentrate (SD-pdFVIII) has been employed for treatment of Italian patients with haemophilia A for 15 years. This product is a non-monoclonally purified, high purity FVIII concentrate, containing large amounts of von Willebrand factor (VWF). A retrospective survey was carried out in Italy in order to evaluate the immunogenicity of SD-pdFVIII in previously untreated patients (PUPs) or in minimally treated patients (MTPs), i.e. previously exposed for up to 5 days only to other plasma-derived concentrates. The survey included 99 patients with ages ranging from 6 to 64 years (median=21.3) of whom 31 PUPs and 68 MTPs, the latter with a median of four exposure days (EDs; range 1-5) to other plasma products. Surveyed patients had been exposed to SD-pdFVIII for a median of 83 EDs (range 21-1580). Seven patients (three PUPs and four MTPs), all with severe haemophilia, had developed inhibitors [7.1%, 95%; confidence interval: 3-14%] after a median of 11 EDs (range 4-22). Of them, two were low responders (<or=5 BU mL-1) and five high responders. Two low responders and one high responder tolerated inhibitors spontaneously; one high responder underwent immunotolerance treatment with complete, long-standing response. These findings show that SD-pdFVIII is at low risk of inhibitor development in PUPs and MTPs with severe and moderate haemophilia, the risk of inhibitor development being similar to that previously reported for other plasma-derived VWF-containing FVIII products.

Adolescent↗

Quality of life is associated to the orthopaedic status in haemophilic patients with inhibitors.

Inhibitors represent one major complication of haemophilia treatment, as they increase the risk of bleeding, physical disability and mortality. The Cost Of Care Inhibitors Study (COCIS) showed that modern strategies applied to manage patients with inhibitors adsorb high amounts of resources but provide satisfactory levels of Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HR-QoL). This paper focuses on determinants of HR-QoL in inhibitory patients. Fifty adult patients, enrolled by 11 Italian Haemophilia Centres, were clinically assessed and filled in two HR-QoL generic questionnaires: the EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). According to our results, bleeding frequency and inhibitor titres were not found associated with HR-QoL. Global HR-QoL, and in particular the physical component of wellbeing in these patients was found negatively associated with their orthopaedic condition: the EQ-5D Visual Analogue Scale (P<0.001) scores, the SF-36 domain 'physical functioning' and 'physical component summary' (P<0.01) scores were found significantly correlated with the orthopaedic joint score, even after adjusting for patients' age. These results were confirmed by those from the EQ-5D profile. To conclude, the COCIS study is the first study showing that HR-QoL in inhibitory patients is impaired by their orthopedic status, while other aspects do not seem to influence patients' global wellbeing. Our results suggest that while the management of this complication is satisfactory, the attention has now to be focused on the prevention of the orthopaedic problems in these patients, which nowadays constitute one of the most important aspects to be considered in the haemophilia care.

Adolescent↗

Genetic diagnosis of haemophilia and other inherited bleeding disorders.

Inherited deficiencies of plasma proteins involved in blood coagulation generally lead to lifelong bleeding disorders, whose severity is inversely proportional to the degree of factor deficiency. Haemophilia A and B, inherited as X-linked recessive traits, are the most common hereditary hemorrhagic disorders caused by a deficiency or dysfunction of blood coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX). Together with von Willebrand's disease, a defect of primary haemostasis, these X-linked disorders include 95% to 97% of all the inherited deficiencies of coagulation factors. The remaining defects, generally transmitted as autosomal recessive traits, are rare with prevalence of the presumably homozygous forms in the general population of 1:500,000 for FVII deficiency and 1 in 2 million for prothrombin (FII) and factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency. Molecular characterization, carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis remain the key steps for the prevention of the birth of children affected by coagulation disorders in developing countries, where patients with these deficiencies rarely live beyond childhood and where management is still largely inadequate. These characterizations are possible by direct or indirect genetic analysis of genes involved in these diseases, and the choice of the strategy depends on the effective available budget and facilities to achieve a large benefit. In countries with more advanced molecular facilities and higher budget resources, the most appropriate choice in general is a direct strategy for mutation detection. However, in countries with limited facilities and low budget resources, carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis are usually performed by linkage analysis with genetic markers. This article reviews the genetic diagnosis of haemophilia, genetics and inhibitor development, genetics of von Willebrand's disease and of rare bleeding disorders.

Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited↗

Rare bleeding disorders.

Deficiencies of coagulation factors other than factor VIII and factor IX (afibrinogenemia, FII, FV, FV+FVIII, FVII, FX, FXI, FXIII) that cause bleeding disorders (RBDs) are inherited as autosomal recessive traits and are rare, with prevalences in the general population varying between 1 in 500,000 and 1 in 2 million for the homozygous forms. As a consequence of the rarity of these deficiencies, the type and severity of bleeding symptoms, the underlying molecular defects, and the actual management of bleeding episodes are not as well established as for hemophilia A and B. The study of the genetic basis of these disorders could represent an important tool for prevention through prenatal diagnosis. Treatment of patients with RBDs during bleeding episodes or surgery is a challenge because of the lack of experience and the paucity of data. For some deficiency factor concentrates are still non available and severe complications can occur. These complications can be minimized by assessment of risks of bleeding and thrombosis, use of haemostatic means other than blood components or no therapy at all. The RBDs pose a problem for guideline writers because there are no suitable clinical trials to supply good evidence for how these people are best treated. The lack of adequate information on clinical manifestations, treatment and genetic basis of RBDs could be improved by the collection of data in an International Database (http://www.rbdd.org), linkable to others previously published. This could be a useful tool to fill the gap between clinical data and clinical practice. This article reviews the genetic basis of RBDs, problems and complications of treatment, problems in the preparation of suitable guidelines for treatment and the future perspectives of the International Registry on RBDs.

Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited↗

A prospective randomized trial of high and standard dosages of recombinant factor VIIa for treatment of hemarthroses in hemophiliacs with inhibitors.

AIM: A multicenter randomized open-label crossover prospective trial was designed to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost of standard and high dosages of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for home treatment of hemarthroses in hemophiliacs with inhibitors. METHODS: Patients were instructed to treat, within 6 h from the onset of bleeding, four consecutive hemarthroses of ankles, knees, or elbows, either with the rFVIIa standard dose of 90 microg kg(-1) (repeated as necessary every 3 h) or with a single high dose of 270 microg kg(-1). Patients who did not achieve a clinical success within 9 h continued rFVIIa treatment with repeated standard doses. Response to treatment was assessed for up to 48 h by patients/caregivers, who reported on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) graded from 0 to 100 the improvement in symptoms and also rated the responses as effective, partially effective or ineffective. Success was defined a treatment course rated as effective and with a VAS score > or =70 and failure a treatment course rated as ineffective and VAS score < or =30, whereas treatment courses that did not fulfill these criteria were considered partial responses. RESULTS: Twenty hemophiliacs with inhibitors were originally enrolled (median age: 27 years), 18 of them treated 32 hemarthroses assigned to the standard-dosage and 36 to the high-dosage regimen, during the study period of 18 months. Forty-eight hemarthroses (71%) occurred in target joints. Success rates for standard- and high-dosage regimens were similar: 31% and 25% at 9 h, 53% and 50% at 24 h, 66% and 64% at 48 h, the end point for outcome assessment. The median number of rFVIIa infusions needed to achieve a successful course was significantly greater for the standard-dosage (n = 3) than for the high-dosage regimen (n = 1), and the median amount of rFVIIa ultimately used per successful course was identical (270 microg kg(-1)). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that a high-dosage regimen with rFVIIa for home treatment of hemarthroses is effective, safe, does not imply an increased consumption of rFVIIa and requires the infusion of a smaller number of rFVIIa doses. Its convenience is particularly relevant in cases with difficult venous access and in hemorrhages into target joints.

Adolescent↗