Plasmin generation analysis in patients with bleeding disorder of unknown cause.

ABSTRACT: Bleeding disorder of unknown cause (BDUC) is a diagnosis of exclusion after evaluation of plasma coagulation and platelet function. Patients with BDUC (n = 375) recorded in the Vienna Bleeding Biobank were analyzed in comparison with healthy controls (HCs; n = 100) in this case-control study. Plasmin generation (PG) parameters were analyzed using calibrated fluorescence detection in citrated plasma. Turbidimetric plasma clot formation/lysis of 293 (78%) patients with BDUC and confocal microscopy of clots from representative patients with BDUC (n = 6) and HCs (n = 9) were assessed. In the PG analysis, patients with BDUC exhibited lower velocity and peak plasmin levels but a higher endogenous plasmin potential than HCs. Peak plasmin levels correlated with maximum clot absorbance but not with clot lysis time. Clot absorbance is an indicator of clot fiber density. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed a tendency towards thicker fibers in clots of patients with BDUC, which negatively correlated with peak plasmin (r = -0.561; P = .030). Peak plasmin correlated weakly with factor XIII, but not with other fibrinolytic factors (alpha2-antiplasmin, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, or plasminogen activator inhibitor 1) or bleeding severity. A model comprising fibrinogen and parameters of PG yielded high predictive power in discriminating between patients with BDUC and HCs across a fivefold stratified cross validation (80% of data; mean area under the curve [AUC], 0.847). The model generalized well to unseen data (20% of data; AUC, 0.856). Overall, patients with BDUC counterintuitively exhibited reduced peak plasmin levels, potentially related to altered clot structure.

Fibrinolysis is impaired in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have an increased risk of thrombosis, which may be due to altered fibrinolysis. OBJECTIVES: To elucidate the clinical impact of delayed fibrinolysis in ITP patients. METHODS: A turbidimetric clot formation and lysis assay and a fluorometric plasmin generation (PG) assay were performed, and levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), tPA-PAI-1 complexes, α2-antiplasmin, thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, and D-dimer were assessed in 86 adult primary ITP patients and 78 healthy controls (HCs). RESULTS: ITP patients showed significantly delayed clot formation, increased clot density, and prolonged clot lysis time (CLT) compared with HCs, with a median (IQR) CLT of 28.0 (13.7-34.7) minutes in patients and 17.3 (12.0-28.0) minutes in HCs, while in the PG assay, only the lag time was prolonged. In ITP patients compared with controls, PAI-1 was higher (1.2 [0.8-2.6] vs 1.1 [0.6-2.1] U/mL) and tPA antigen and activity were lower (tPA antigen: 2.6 [1.1-4.4] vs 3.7 [3.2-4.7] ng/mL; tPA activity ≤ 0 U/mL: 26% vs 7%). TPA-PAI-1 complex levels were positively associated with CLT in multiple linear regression analysis (ß = 0.241; P = .019), whereas PG parameters were not associated with CLT. Six patients who developed thrombosis during follow-up had higher levels of tPA-PAI-1 complexes. CONCLUSION: Prolonged CLT and delayed onset of PG may indicate a hypofibrinolytic tendency in ITP patients, as also indicated by high PAI-1 and low tPA levels. No association was found between fibrinolytic potential and the bleeding phenotype, whereas higher tPA-PAI-1 complex levels were associated with prolonged CLT and increased in patients with future thrombosis.

Interference of lupus anticoagulant causing antiprothrombin and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies on international normalized ratio measurements: comparative analysis of international normalized ratio methods.

Background: Life-long vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy is recommended as a standard of care in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients with thrombosis. Concerns have been raised about the validity of international normalized ratio (INR) measurements in lupus anticoagulant (LA)-positive APS patients because LA may interfere with phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests and could elevate INR measurements. Objectives: Here, we aimed to determine the interference of antigen-specific monoclonal and isolated patient antibodies with LA activity on INR measurements. Methods: Pooled normal plasma and control plasma from patients on VKA (without LA) were incubated with monoclonal and isolated patient immunoglobulin G antiprothrombin and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies that express LA activity. INR was determined before and after addition using 3 laboratory assays (Owren STA-Hepato Prest, Quick STA-NeoPTimal, and Quick STA-Neoplastine R) and 1 point-of-care test device (CoaguChek Pro II). Results: Antiprothrombin and anti-beta-2-glycoprotein I antibodies with LA activity interfered with recombinant human thromboplastin reagents (Quick STA-Neoplastine R and CoaguChek Pro II), particularly when added to plasma of VKA-treated controls. This effect was most evident on point-of-care test INR measurements, while the recombinant Quick reagent exhibited a lesser degree of interference. In contrast, tissue-derived thromboplastin reagents (Owren STA-Hepato Prest and Quick STA-NeoPTimal) remained largely unaffected by these antibodies, both in pooled normal plasma and VKA anticoagulated control plasma. Among these reagents, the Owren INR reagent exhibited the lowest sensitivity to the influence of LA antibodies. This observed difference in sensitivity is independent of the plasma dilution factor or the presence of factor V or fibrinogen in Owren reagent. Conclusion: INR reagents that utilize recombinant human thromboplastin are more sensitive to the presence of monoclonal and patient-derived antibodies with LA activity. Consequently, APS patients positive for LA should be monitored using tissue-derived thromboplastin reagents, given its reduced susceptibility to interference by LA-causing antibodies.

Platelet Activation Pathways Controlling Reversible Integrin αIIbß3 Activation.

Background Agonist-induced platelet activation, with the integrin αIIbß3 conformational change, is required for fibrinogen binding. This is considered reversible under specific conditions, allowing a second phase of platelet aggregation. The signaling pathways that differentiate between a permanent or transient activation state of platelets are poorly elucidated. Objective To explore platelet signaling mechanisms induced by the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) or by protease-activated receptors (PAR) for thrombin that regulate time-dependent αIIbß3 activation. Methods Platelets were activated with collagen-related peptide (CRP, stimulating GPVI), thrombin receptor-activating peptides, or thrombin (stimulating PAR1 and/or 4). Integrin αIIbß3 activation and P-selectin expression was assessed by two-color flow cytometry. Signaling pathway inhibitors were applied before or after agonist addition. Reversibility of platelet spreading was studied by microscopy. Results Platelet pretreatment with pharmacological inhibitors decreased GPVI- and PAR-induced integrin αIIbß3 activation and P-selectin expression in the target order of protein kinase C (PKC) > glycogen synthase kinase 3 > ß-arrestin > phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. Posttreatment revealed secondary αIIbß3 inactivation (not P-selectin expression), in the same order, but this reversibility was confined to CRP and PAR1 agonist. Combined inhibition of conventional and novel PKC isoforms was most effective for integrin closure. Pre- and posttreatment with ticagrelor, blocking the P2Y 12 adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor, enhanced αIIbß3 inactivation. Spreading assays showed that PKC or P2Y 12 inhibition provoked a partial conversion from filopodia to a more discoid platelet shape. Conclusion PKC and autocrine ADP signaling contribute to persistent integrin αIIbß3 activation in the order of PAR1/GPVI > PAR4 stimulation and hence to stabilized platelet aggregation. These findings are relevant for optimization of effective antiplatelet treatment.

Comprehensive functional characterization of a novel ANO6 variant in a new patient with Scott syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Scott syndrome is a mild platelet-type bleeding disorder, first described in 1979, with only 3 unrelated families identified through defective phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure and confirmed by sequencing. The syndrome is distinguished by impaired surface exposure of procoagulant PS on platelets after stimulation. To date, platelet function and thrombin generation in this condition have not been extensively characterized. OBJECTIVES: Genetic and functional studies were undertaken in a consanguineous family with a history of excessive bleeding of unknown cause. METHODS: A targeted gene panel of known bleeding and platelet genes was used to identify possible genetic variants. Platelet phenotyping, flow adhesion, flow cytometry, whole blood and platelet-rich plasma thrombin generation, and specialized extracellular vesicle measurements were performed. RESULTS: We detected a novel homozygous frameshift variant, c.1943del (p.Arg648Hisfs∗23), in ANO6 encoding Anoctamin 6, in a patient with a bleeding history but interestingly with normal ANO6 expression. Phenotyping of the patient's platelets confirmed the absence of PS expression and procoagulant activity but also revealed other defects including reduced platelet δ granules, reduced ristocetin-mediated aggregation and secretion, and reduced P-selectin expression after stimulation. PS was absent on spread platelets, and thrombi formed over collagen at 1500/s. Reduced thrombin generation was observed in platelet-rich plasma and confirmed in whole blood using a new thrombin generation assay. CONCLUSION: We present a comprehensive report of a patient with Scott syndrome with a novel frameshift variant in AN06, which is associated with no platelet PS exposure and markedly reduced thrombin generation in whole blood, explaining the significant bleeding phenotype observed.

Lipid nanoparticles and siRNA targeting plasminogen provide lasting inhibition of fibrinolysis in mouse and dog models of hemophilia A.

Antifibrinolytic drugs are used extensively for on-demand treatment of severe acute bleeding. Controlling fibrinolysis may also be an effective strategy to prevent or lessen chronic recurring bleeding in bleeding disorders such as hemophilia A (HA), but current antifibrinolytics have unfavorable pharmacokinetic profiles. Here, we developed a long-lasting antifibrinolytic using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting plasminogen packaged in clinically used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and tested it to determine whether reducing plasmin activity in animal models of HA could decrease bleeding frequency and severity. Treatment with the siRNA-carrying LNPs reduced circulating plasminogen and suppressed fibrinolysis in wild-type and HA mice and dogs. In HA mice, hemostatic efficacy depended on the injury model; plasminogen knockdown improved hemostasis after a saphenous vein injury but not tail vein transection injury, suggesting that saphenous vein injury is a murine bleeding model sensitive to the contribution of fibrinolysis. In dogs with HA, LNPs carrying siRNA targeting plasminogen were as effective at stabilizing clots as tranexamic acid, a clinical antifibrinolytic, and in a pilot study of two dogs with HA, the incidence of spontaneous or excess bleeding was reduced during 4 months of prolonged knockdown. Collectively, these data demonstrate that long-acting antifibrinolytic therapy can be achieved and that it provides hemostatic benefit in animal models of HA.

Endogenous thrombin potential and time-dependent thrombin generation parameters are independent risk factors for mortality in the general population.

BACKGROUND: Thrombin generation (TG) is used as a global test of coagulation and is an indicator of thrombosis and bleeding risk. Until now, data on the association of TG and mortality are inconclusive. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association between TG and mortality in the prospective Moli-sani cohort (n = 21 920). METHODS: TG was measured using calibrated automated thrombinography using PPP-Reagent Low. Lag time (LT), endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), peak height, time-to-peak (TTP), and velocity index were quantified. The association of TG and mortality was studied by Cox regression and adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, smoking, contraceptives, and medical history (cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and cancer). RESULTS: LT and TTP were 4.1 ± 1.0 minutes and 6.6 ± 1.5 minutes, on average. The peak height was 364 ± 88 nM, velocity index was 163 ± 63 nM/min, and ETP was 1721 ± 411 nM·min. ETP was negatively associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.86; 95% CI, 0.81-0.92; P < .001). Subjects in the lowest quintile of the ETP (ETPQ1) had a 1.3-fold higher mortality rate. Additionally, a high TTP/LT ratio was negatively associated with mortality (HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.57-0.89; P = .003). Individuals in quintile 1 of the TTP/LT ratio had a 1.4-fold higher mortality rate compared with the remainder of the cohort. Subjects that were both in ETPQ1 and TTP/LTQ1 had a 1.8-fold higher mortality rate, regardless of whether they reported history of cardiovascular disease at baseline (HR, 1.61 [CI: 1.07-2.42]) or not (HR, 1.89 [CI: 1.51-2.36]). CONCLUSION: Low ETP and TTP/LT ratios are independent risk factors for all-cause mortality in the general population.

Viewpoint: The value of non-criteria antiphospholipid antibodies.

In 2006, at a meeting in Sydney, Australia, consensus was reached by an international group of specialists to establish a number of serological criteria that identify patients with a history of thrombosis or pregnancy complications as having antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). These criteria were originally formulated for research purposes and to compare clinical trials in different centres. However, these same criteria are now generally used and accepted for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The practice of using these criteria for direct patient care requires that these criteria are based on sound scientific evidence. Indeed, for all the autoantibodies that are officially included in the serological criteria, it has been shown that they induce thrombosis and fetal loss when infused into mice. There are also a number of additional autoantibodies that have been identified in these patients but for these antibodies there was not enough evidence to meet the official APS criteria in 2006. Seventeen years have now passed since the consensus meeting, therefore, this review examines whether additional studies performed with these 'non-criteria' autoantibodies have provided sufficient results to suggest the inclusion of these autoantibodies in the official serological criteria of APS.

A thrombin-driven neural net diagnoses the antiphospholipid syndrome without the need for interruption of anticoagulation.

ABSTRACT: Thrombosis is an important manifestation of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). The thrombin generation (TG) test is a global hemostasis assay, and increased TG is associated with thrombosis. APS is currently diagnosed based on clinical and laboratory criteria, the latter defined as anti-cardiolipin, anti-ß2-glycoprotein I antibodies, or lupus anticoagulant (LA). APS testing is often performed after a thrombotic episode and subsequent administration of anticoagulation, which might hamper the interpretation of clotting assays used for LA testing. We set out to develop an artificial neural network (NN) that can diagnose APS in patients who underwent vitamin K antagonist (VKA) treatment, based on TG test results. Five NNs were trained to diagnose APS in 48 VKA-treated patients with APS and 64 VKA-treated controls, using TG and thrombin dynamics parameters as inputs. The 2 best-performing NNs were selected (accuracy, 96%; sensitivity, 96%-98%; and specificity, 95%-97%) and further validated in an independent cohort of VKA-anticoagulated patients with APS (n = 33) and controls (n = 62). Independent clinical validation favored 1 of the 2 selected NNs, with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 94% for the diagnosis of APS. In conclusion, the combined use of TG and NN methodology allowed for us to develop an NN that diagnoses APS with an accuracy of 92% in individuals with VKA anticoagulation (n = 95). After further clinical validation, the NN could serve as a screening and diagnostic tool for patients with thrombosis, especially because there is no need to interrupt anticoagulant therapy.

Altered whole blood thrombin generation and hyperresponsive platelets in patients with pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic disease is a major complication in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients with PDAC often have altered blood cell counts, which are associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE) development. The high thrombotic risk in patients with PDAC may be partially caused by procoagulant blood cells. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare blood cell-dependent coagulation between patients with PDAC (n = 18) and healthy controls matched for age and sex (n = 18). METHODS: Thrombin generation (TG) was measured in whole blood (WB) and plasma. The capacity of platelets to release granules (PGRCs) was measured in WB. We explored the occurrence of thromboembolic events in patients with PDAC during a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: Patients showed an increased endogenous thrombin potential in WB compared with controls. This difference was not observed in plasma, indicating a procoagulant effect of blood cells. Both in WB and plasma, the lag time was prolonged in patients compared with controls. Patients had hyperresponsive platelets, with a shorter time to peak granule release. Of the 18 patients with PDAC, 4 developed a venous thromboembolism (22%) and 1 developed an arterial thrombosis (6%). A shorter lag time in WB, but not in plasma, and an increased PGRC were associated with thromboembolic events. CONCLUSION: Patients with PDAC have an increased and delayed WB TG coagulation profile compared with controls. A shorter lag time in WB TG and increased PGRC are associated with the incidence of thromboembolic events. Platelets appear to be key players in thrombosis development. Measuring hemostasis in WB could improve thrombosis risk estimation in patients with PDAC.

High alpha-2-macroglobulin levels are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease events: A Moli-sani cohort study.

BACKGROUND: α2-macroglobulin (α2M) is a versatile endopeptidase inhibitor that plays a role in cell growth, inflammation and coagulation. α2M is an inhibitor of key coagulation enzyme thrombin. Hypercoagulability due to an excess of thrombin production can cause thrombotic events. Therefore, we investigated the association of α2M levels and cardiovascular events in a subset of the general Italian population. METHODS: We determined α2M levels in the baseline samples of a prospective cohort (n = 19,688; age: 55 ± 12 years; 47.8 % men) of the Moli-sani study and investigated the association with the cardiovascular events (n = 432, 2.2 %) in the median follow-up period of 4.3 years. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by multivariable Cox regression and adjusted for a large panel of confounding factors. RESULTS: α2M levels above the 90th percentile were significantly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events after full adjustment for age, sex, current smoking, BMI, oral contraceptive use, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and history of cancer (HR: 1.36; CI: 1.06-1.74). Moreover, high α2M was associated with coronary heart disease (CHD; HR: 1.47; CI: 1.12-1.91), but not stroke. Stratification for CVD at baseline showed that high α2M levels are associated with CHD events in subjects without CVD at baseline (HR: 1.40; CI: 1.00-1.95) and subjects with CVD at baseline (HR: 1.58; CI: 1.02-2.44). CONCLUSION: We show in a prospective cohort that high levels of α2M could be a risk factor for cardiovascular events, especially coronary heart disease events.

Whole blood thrombin generation shows a significant hypocoagulable state in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cirrhosis have a normal to increased thrombin generation (TG) capacity in platelet-poor plasma (PPP). By reflecting the contribution of all circulating blood cells, whole blood (WB) TG may allow a more physiological assessment of coagulation. OBJECTIVES: We compared WB-TG vs PPP-TG in patients with cirrhosis. METHODS: Assessment of coagulation included routine tests, factor VIII, natural anticoagulants, PPP-TG, and WB-TG. TG assays were performed with and without thrombomodulin. Twenty-five healthy subjects were included as controls. RESULTS: We included 108 patients (Child-Pugh A/B/C, 44/24/40). Compared with controls, patients had significantly lower platelet count, longer international normalized ratio, higher FVIII, and lower levels of protein C/S and antithrombin. Regarding thrombomodulin-modified TG assays, in compensated cirrhosis, both PPP-TG and WB-TG indicated an increased TG capacity, as reflected by an endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) significantly higher than controls. In contrast, in decompensated cirrhosis, PPP-TG indicated a hypercoagulable state with increased ETP, higher peak height, and shorter time-to-peak than controls, whereas WB-TG revealed a progressive impairment of TG kinetics and total capacity, ultimately resulting in a profound hypocoagulable state in patients with Child-Pugh C cirrhosis (ie, significant prolongation of lag time and time-to-peak with reduction of both ETP and peak height). In decompensated patients, bacterial infections and severity of anemia were associated with a further reduction of both ETP and peak height. CONCLUSION: Compensated cirrhosis is associated with an increased TG capacity. In decompensated cirrhosis, contrary to PPP-TG, which indicates hypercoagulability, WB-TG shows a significant hypocoagulable state. The clinical value of these findings deserves further investigation.

Cellular Components Contributing to the Development of Venous Thrombosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive type of cancer and has a poor prognosis. Patients with PDAC are at high risk of developing thromboembolic events, which is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality following cancer progression. Plasma-derived coagulation is the most studied process in cancer-associated thrombosis. Other blood components, such as platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells, have been gaining less attention. This narrative review addresses the literature on the role of cellular components in the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with PDAC. Blood cells seem to play an important role in the development of VTE. Altered blood cell counts, i.e., leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, and anemia, have been found to associate with VTE risk. Tumor-related activation of leukocytes leads to the release of tissue factor-expressing microvesicles and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps, initiating coagulation and forming a scaffold for thrombi. Tissue factor-expressing microvesicles are also thought to be released by PDAC cells. PDAC cells have been shown to stimulate platelet activation and aggregation, proposedly via the secretion of podoplanin and mucins. Hypofibrinolysis, partially explained by increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity, is observed in PDAC. In short, PDAC-associated hypercoagulability is a complex and multifactorial process. A better understanding of cellular contributions to hypercoagulability might lead to the improvement of diagnostic tests to identify PDAC patients at highest risk of VTE.

Plasminogen deficiency suppresses pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma disease progression.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly fatal metastatic disease associated with robust activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. However, the potential contribution of the primary fibrinolytic protease plasminogen to PDAC disease progression has remained largely undefined. Mice bearing C57Bl/6-derived KPC (KRasG12D , TRP53R172H ) tumors displayed evidence of plasmin activity in the form of high plasmin-antiplasmin complexes and high plasmin generation potential relative to mice without tumors. Notably, plasminogen-deficient mice (Plg- ) had significantly diminished KPC tumor growth in subcutaneous and orthotopic implantation models. Moreover, the metastatic potential of KPC cells was significantly diminished in Plg- mice, which was linked to reduced early adhesion and/or survival of KPC tumor cells. The reduction in primary orthotopic KPC tumor growth in Plg- mice was associated with increased apoptosis, reduced accumulation of pro-tumor immune cells, and increased local proinflammatory cytokine production. Elimination of fibrin(ogen), the primary proteolytic target of plasmin, did not alter KPC primary tumor growth and resulted in only a modest reduction in metastatic potential. In contrast, deficiencies in the plasminogen receptors Plg-RKT or S100A10 in tumor cells significantly reduced tumor growth. Plg-RKT reduction in tumor cells, but not reduced S100A10, suppressed metastatic potential in a manner that mimicked plasminogen deficiency. Finally, tumor growth was also reduced in NSG mice subcutaneously or orthotopically implanted with patient-derived PDAC tumor cells in which circulating plasminogen was pharmacologically reduced. Collectively, these studies suggest that plasminogen promotes PDAC tumor growth and metastatic potential, in part through engaging plasminogen receptors on tumor cells.

Low factor XIII levels and altered fibrinolysis in patients with multiple myeloma.

BACKGROUND: Acquired factor FXIII (FXIII) deficiency can be immune- or non-immune mediated and may cause severe bleeding symptoms. The incidence of acquired FXIII deficiency and its etiology in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: To assess FXIII levels and the balance of fibrinolysis in newly diagnosed, untreated MM and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) patients. METHODS: FXIII activity, mixing studies, FXIII-A2B2 antigen, total FXIII-B antigen were measured in platelet-poor plasma from 17 untreated MM patients, 33 untreated MGUS patients, and 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Besides routine laboratory measurements, the balance of coagulation and fibrinolysis was evaluated using quantitative fibrin monomer (FM) test, thrombin-antithrombin assay, α2-antiplasmin activity, plasmin-α2-antiplasmin (PAP) complex, D-dimer, plasmin generation assay, clot lysis assay, and ClotPro-TPA test. RESULTS: FXIII-A2B2 levels were significantly lower in MM patients compared to controls [median (IQR):14.6 (11.2-19.4) vs. 21.8 (17.1-26.4) mg/L, p = 0.0015], whereas total FXIII-B did not differ between groups. Decrease in FXIII activity was parallel to the decrease in FXIII-A2B2. An immune-mediated inhibitory mechanism was ruled out. Free/total FXIII-B was significantly higher in MM patients compared to MGUS and healthy controls, suggesting an etiology of FXIII-A consumption. In MM and MGUS patients, FM, D-dimer, and PAP complex were significantly elevated compared to controls, indicating hypercoagulability and ongoing fibrinolysis. CONCLUSIONS: Low FXIII levels due to consumption were observed in MM patients at diagnosis. Hypercoagulability and ongoing fibrinolysis were detected in MM and MGUS, indicating that a disturbed hemostasis balance is already present in the latter benign condition.

Periprocedural continuation versus interruption of oral anticoagulant drugs during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: rationale and design of the POPular PAUSE TAVI trial.

About one-third of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) use oral anticoagulants (OAC), mainly due to atrial fibrillation. General guidelines advise interrupting OAC in patients with a high risk of bleeding undergoing interventions. However, preliminary observational data suggest that the continuation of OAC during TAVI is safe and may reduce the risk of periprocedural thromboembolic events. The Periprocedural Continuation Versus Interruption of Oral Anticoagulant Drugs During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (POPular PAUSE TAVI) is a multicentre, randomised clinical trial with open-label treatment and blinded endpoint assessment. Patients are randomised 1:1 to periprocedural continuation versus interruption of OAC and are stratified for vitamin K antagonist or direct oral anticoagulant use. The primary endpoint is a composite of cardiovascular mortality, all stroke, myocardial infarction, major vascular complications and type 2-4 bleeding within 30 days after TAVI, according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium-3 criteria. Secondary endpoints include separate individual and composite outcomes, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Since continuation of OAC is associated with the ancillary benefit that it simplifies periprocedural management, the primary outcome is first analysed for non-inferiority; if non-inferiority is proven, superiority will be tested. Recruitment started in November 2020, and the trial will continue until a total of 858 patients have been included and followed for 90 days. In summary, POPular PAUSE TAVI is the first randomised clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of periprocedural continuation versus interruption of OAC in patients undergoing TAVI.

Crucial roles of red blood cells and platelets in whole blood thrombin generation.

Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets contribute to the coagulation capacity in bleeding and thrombotic disorders. The thrombin generation (TG) process is considered to reflect the interactions between plasma coagulation and the various blood cells. Using a new high-throughput method capturing the complete TG curve, we were able to compare TG in whole blood and autologous platelet-rich and platelet-poor plasma to redefine the blood cell contributions to the clotting process. We report a faster and initially higher generation of thrombin and shorter coagulation time in whole blood than in platelet-rich plasma upon low concentrations of coagulant triggers, including tissue factor, Russell viper venom factor X, factor Xa, factor XIa, and thrombin. The TG was accelerated with increased hematocrit and delayed after prior treatment of RBC with phosphatidylserine-blocking annexin A5. RBC treatment with ionomycin increased phosphatidylserine exposure, confirmed by flow cytometry, and increased the TG process. In reconstituted blood samples, the prior selective blockage of phosphatidylserine on RBC with annexin A5 enhanced glycoprotein VI-induced platelet procoagulant activity. For patients with anemia or erythrocytosis, cluster analysis revealed high or low whole-blood TG profiles in specific cases of anemia. The TG profiles lowered upon annexin A5 addition in the presence of RBCs and thus were determined by the extent of phosphatidylserine exposure of blood cells. Profiles for patients with polycythemia vera undergoing treatment were similar to that of control subjects. We concluded that RBC and platelets, in a phosphatidylserine-dependent way, contribute to the TG process. Determination of the whole-blood hypo- or hyper-coagulant activity may help to characterize a bleeding or thrombosis risk.

Abacavir use is associated with increased prothrombin conversion.

There is ongoing debate as to whether abacavir (ABC) increases the risk for cardiovascular disease(CVD) in people living with HIV (PLHIV) and the mechanisms underlying this possible association. We recently showed that the use of an ABC-containing regimen was independently associated with increased thrombin generation (TG). In the present study, we aim to explore these findings further, by studying the mechanistical processes that underly the global thrombin generation test via thrombin dynamics analysis. Thrombin dynamics analysis can pinpoint the cause of increased thrombin generation associated with ABC-use either to the procoagulant prothrombin conversion pathway or the anticoagulant thrombin inactivation pathway. In this cross-sectional study, 208 virally suppressed PLHIV were included, of whom 94 were on a ABC-containing regimen, 92 on a tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-containing regimen, and the remainder on other regimens. We used Calibrated Automated Thrombinography to measure thrombin generation and perform thrombin dynamics analysis. The total amount of prothrombin conversion, as well as the maximum rate of prothrombin conversion were significantly increased in PLHIV on an ABC containing regimen compared to other treatment regimens. The levels of pro- and anticoagulant factors were comparable, indicating that the ABC-induced changes affect the kinetics of prothrombin conversion rather than procoagulant factor levels. Moreover, Von Willebrand Factor (VWF), active VWF and VWF pro-peptide levels were significantly higher in PLHIV than controls without HIV. However, they did not differ between ABC and non-ABC treated participants.