Recurrent rhabdomyolysis caused by carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency, common but under-recognised: Lessons to be learnt.

We discuss two adult siblings who presented with symptoms of myalgia and rhabdomyolysis following exercise with myoglobinuria; genetic testing confirmed carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency and resulted in institution of appropriate crisis management and dietary advice. We explore the phenotypic variability of this commonest fatty oxidation defect that remains under-diagnosed in the adult population and provide clues for early recognition and diagnosis.

Unconventional diagnosis of Normandy-type von Willebrand's disease in a blood donor.

We report the case of a long-standing female blood donor whose blood donation was processed for cryoprecipitate. The cryoprecipitate unit was chosen at random for FVIII:C estimation as part of the quality control, and a low FVIII:C level was identified. The cause of this was subsequently shown to be the Normandy variant of type-2 von Willebrand's disease due to a homozygous Arg854Gln mutation in the von Willebrand factor gene.

The management of von Willebrand's disease-associated gastrointestinal angiodysplasia.

There is a recognized association between von Willebrand's disease and gastrointestinal angiodysplasia. Most previous publications have been reports of the association itself and there is little published on the management and long-term follow-up of affected patients. We report our experience and follow-up of six patients, and review the previous literature.

Two novel type 2N von Willebrand disease-causing mutations that result in defective factor VIII binding, multimerization, and secretion of von Willebrand factor.

Two novel mutations, a T-to-C transition at nucleotide 2612 and a T-to-G transversion at nucleotide 3923 of the von Willebrand factor (vWF) complementary DNA, were detected by analysis of the vWF gene in DNA from members of 2 families with atypical von Willebrand disease. The T2612C transition predicts substitution of cysteine by arginine at amino acid position 788 (C788R), and the T3923G transversion predicts substitution of cysteine by glycine at position 1225 (C1225G) of pre-pro-vWF. The patients homozygous for the C788R and C1225G mutations both had a partial vWF deficiency (0. 18 IU/mL and 0.07 IU/mL vWF antigen, respectively); vWF in plasma from patients homozygous for either the C788R or the C1225G mutation failed to bind factor VIII and lacked high molecular weight multimers. Recombinant (r) vWF molecules having the C788R or C1225G mutation were expressed in COS-7 cells. Both rvWF C788R and rvWF C1225G exhibited significantly impaired secretion and failed to bind factor VIII. Recombinant vWF C788R in COS-7 culture medium showed a severe reduction in high molecular weight multimers, whereas rvWF C1225G showed a very mild reduction in high molecular weight multimers when compared with wild-type rvWF. (Blood. 2000;95:2000-2007)

A common splice site mutation is shared by two families with different type 2N von Willebrand disease mutations.

Using an ELISA-based method to detect type 2N von Willebrand disease (VWD), we found two individuals with absent FVIII binding. Direct sequencing of the FVIII binding region of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene showed that one individual had an R854Q substitution whilst the other had a T791M substitution. The very low FVIII binding and the VWF:Ag levels in both individuals suggested a second defect on the other VWF allele. Conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA was used to detect an additional change in the VWF gene of each patient. Direct sequencing confirmed a previously unreported G to A transition in the donor splice site in intron 25 of both individuals which should result in a null allele. This was confirmed by mRNA analysis. These two individuals therefore have compound heterozygous VWD in which the only expressed allele has a type 2N mutation. In our population, such compound heterozygosity appears to be a significant cause of type 2N VWD.

Characterisation of type 2N von Willebrand disease using phenotypic and molecular techniques.

von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a multimeric glycoprotein found in plasma non covalently linked to factor VIII (FVIII). Type 2N von Willebrand disease (vWD) is caused by a mutation in the vWF gene that results in vWF with a normal multimeric pattern, but with reduced binding to FVIII. We have utilised methods for the phenotypic and genotypic detection of type 2N vWD. The binding of FVIII to vWF in 69 patients, 36 with type 1 vWD, 32 with mild haemophilia A and one possible haemophilia A carrier with low FVIII levels was studied. Of these, six were found to have reduced binding (five type 1 vWD, one possible haemophilia A carrier). DNA was extracted from these patients and exons 18-23 of the vWF gene encoding the FVIII binding region of vWF were analysed. After direct sequencing and chemical cleavage mismatch detection, a Thr28Met mutation was detected in two unrelated individuals, one of whom appears to be a compound heterozygote for the mutation and a null allele. No mutations were found in the region of the vWF gene encoding the FVIII binding region of vWF in the other four patients.