Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), transfusion requirements and clinical outcomes in orthotopic liver transplantation.

Inflammatory phenomena have a direct impact on the prognosis of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to OLT inflammation and hemostasis imbalance in OLT. The association between NETosis, clinical outcomes and transfusion requirements is not determined. To evaluate NETs release during OLT and the effect of NETosis ontransfusion requirements and adverse outcomes in a prospective cohort of patients submitted to OLT. We quantified citrullinated histones (cit-H3) and circulating-free-DNA (cf-DNA) in ninety-three patients submitted to OLT in three periods: pre-transplant, after graft reperfusion and before discharge. NETs markers were compared between these periods using ANOVA test. The association of NETosis and adverse outcomes was evaluated using regression models adjusted for age, sex and corrected MELD. We observed a peak of circulating NETs following reperfusion, evidenced by a 2.4-fold increase in cit-H3 levels in the post-graft reperfusion period (median levels of cit-H3 pre transplant: 0.5 ng/mL, after reperfusion: 1.2 ng/mL and at discharge 0.5 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). We observed an association between increased levels of cit-H3 and in-hospital death (OR = 1.168, 95% CI 1.021-1.336, p = 0.024). No association was found between NETs markers and transfusion requirements. There is a prompt release of NETs after reperfusion that is associated with poorer outcomes and death. Intraoperative NETs release seems to be independent of transfusion requirements. These findings highlight the relevance of inflammation promoted by NETS and its impact on OLT adverse clinical outcomes.

Gene Variants Associated With Venous Thrombosis: A Replication Study in a Brazilian Multicentre Study.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) risk have been identified in European and American populations. Replicate SNPs associated with VTE in a Brazilian multicenter case-control study of the Southeast region. Patients with previous VTE assisted at the Outpatient Clinics of 3 centers of the Southeast Brazilian region were compared to normal controls of the same geographic region. We evaluated 29 SNPs associated with VTE risk in other populations, and 90 SNPs for stratification analysis of the population. Due to high admixture of Brazilian population and lack of previous studies, the calculation of the sample power was performed after genotyping. Sample size, allelic frequency and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were estimated. The association and odds ratio analyses were estimated by logistic regression and the results were adjusted for multiple tests using Bonferroni correction. The evaluation of the genetic structure similarity in the cases and controls was performed by AMOVA. 436 cases and 430 controls were included. It was demonstrated that this sample has a statistical power to detect a genetic association of 79.4%. AMOVA showed that the genetic variability between groups was 0.0% and 100% within each group. None of the SNPs showed association with VTE in our population. A Brazilian multicenter case-control study with adequate sample power, high genetic variability though no stratification between groups, showed no replication of SNPs associated with VTE. The high admixture of Brazilian population may be responsible for these results, emphasizing the influence of the population genetic structure in association studies.

Increased inflammation and endothelial markers in patients with late severe post-thrombotic syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a limiting long-term complication present in 20-50% of patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs. A panel of biomarkers with potential relevance to enhance knowledge on the pathophysiology of PTS was investigated. METHODS: This case-control study included 93 patients with DVT in the lower limbs, 31 with severe PTS (cases) and 62 with mild/no PTS (controls), over 24 months after an acute episode. Thirty-one healthy individuals (HI) with no history of DVT were included as a reference to the population. FVIII activity, D-dimer, inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction markers, matrix metalloproteinases, and their inhibitors, tissue remodeling and growth factor levels were evaluated. The classification of PTS was, by the Villalta scale. RESULTS: Patients with severe PTS showed elevated levels of CRP, sICAM-1, sE-selectin, and decreased MMP-9 and MCP-1 levels when compared to patients with mild/no PTS. Moreover, DVT patients presented higher levels of FVIII and D-dimer when compared to HI. CONCLUSIONS: DVT patients present an inflammatory status, endothelial dysfunction and altered proteolysis MMPs activity, even a long time after the acute thrombotic episode, which is more significant in severe PTS. These results suggest a possible role of these mediators in the maintenance and worsening of PTS severity.

Von Willebrand Factor, ADAMTS13 and D-Dimer Are Correlated with Different Levels of Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

We have investigated whether von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13), and D-Dimer were associated with different levels of renal function in patients with type 1 diabetes. Patients were classified according to level of renal function through estimated glomerular filtration rate: ≥90 and <130mL/min/1,73m2, n=52 (control group), ≥60 and <90mL/min/1,73m2, n=29 (mild renal dysfunction group), <60mL/min/1,73m2, n=28 (severe renal dysfunction group); and through urinary albumin excretion: normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria. Von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS13, and D-Dimer plasma levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ADAMTS13 activity was determined by fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay. Von Willebrand factor levels were increased in patients with mild (P=0.001) and severe (P<0.001) renal dysfunction as compared to the control group. ADAMTS13 levels were also increased in mild (P=0.029) and severe (P=0.002) renal dysfunction groups in comparison to the control group, while ADAMTS13 activity was increased only in the severe renal dysfunction group as compared to the control group (P=0.006). No significant differences were observed among the groups regarding von Willebrand factor/ADAMTS13 ratio. ADAMTS13 activity/ADAMTS13 levels ratio was reduced in patients with mild (P=0.013) and severe (P=0.015) renal dysfunction as compared to the control group. D-Dimer levels were increased in patients with mild (P=0.006) and severe (P<0.001) renal dysfunction as compared to the control group; it was also higher in patients with severe renal dysfunction as compared to the mild renal dysfunction group (P=0.019). Similar results were found for albuminuria classification. Increased von Willebrand factor, ADAMTS13, and D-Dimer levels and decreased ADAMTS13 activity/ADAMTS13 levels ratio are associated with renal dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes, suggesting that endothelial dysfunction and hypercoagulability are associated with nephropathy in type 1 diabetes.

CD144, CD146 and VEGFR-2 properly identify circulating endothelial cell

Studies evaluating circulating endothelial cells by flow cytometry are faced by a lack of con- sensus about the best combination of monoclonal antibodies to be used. The rarity of these cells in peripheral blood, which represent 0.01% of mononuclear cells, drastically increases this challenge. Objective: The aim of this study is to suggest some combinations of markers that would safely and properly identify these cells. Methods: Flow cytometry analysis of circulating endothelial cells was performed applying three different panels composed of different combinations of the CD144, CD146, CD31, CD133, CD45 and anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 antibodies. Results: In spite of the rarity of the events, they were detectable and presented similar interperson numbers of circulating endothelial cells. Conclusion: The combination of markers successfully identified the circulating endothelial cells in healthy individuals, with the use of three different panels confirming the obtained data as reliable.

Avaliação da hemostasia primária, coagulação e fibrinólise em pacientes com complicações hemorrágicas da dengue / Evalution of primary hemostasis, coagulation and fibrinolysis in patients with dengue and bleeding complications

Os casos de dengue são classificados em dengue clássica (DC) e febre hemorrágica da dengue (FHD). Embora a DC seja considerada uma manifestação não grave da dengue, algumas complicações clínicas podem ser encontradas neste grupo, em particular as complicações hemorrágicas. Entretanto, as causas de sangramentos na DC não estão esclarecidas. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma avaliação abrangente dos possíveis mecanismos fisiopatológicos que podem contribuir para a tendência hemorrágica da dengue. Este é um estudo de caso-controle que incluiu adultos com dengue durante o período de defervescência da doença e controles saudáveis. Foram avaliadas as células do sangue periférico, os marcadores da resposta inflamatória, da permeabilidade microvascular, da ativação de células endoteliais e da fibrinólise e a geração de trombina nos pacientes e controles. Foram incluídos 26 adultos com DC e sangramento, 33 adultos com DC sem complicações, 8 adultos com FHD e 67 controles saudáveis. A gravidade e extensão dos sangramentos foram semelhantes entre os pacientes classificados como DC e os classificados como FHD. Pacientes com DC com sangramento e FHD tinham menor contagem de plaquetas em comparação aos com DC sem sangramento. Fator de necrose tumoral (TNF-?), trombomodulina (TM) e fator de von Willebrand (FVW) estavam aumentados nos grupos de dengue em relação aos controles. A atividade e antígeno da ADAMTS 13 estavam diminuídos, em particular nos pacientes com DC não complicada. Houve tendência ao aumento do fator de crescimento do endotélio vascular (VEGF-A) apenas nos pacientes com FHD, mas a diferença não foi estatisticamente significativa. Houve, porém, alterações significativas dos receptores solúveis do VEGF-A (sVEGF-R1 e sVEG-R2). Os níveis plasmáticos do sVEGF-R1 estavam aumentados e de sVEGF-R2 estavam diminuídos nos pacientes, principalmente nos com FHD...

Dengue has been classified according to disease severity into dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). Although DF is considered a non-severe manifestation of dengue, it represents a heterogeneous group of patients with varied clinical complications, particularly, bleeding complications. However, the causes of bleedings in DF have not been fully addressed. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of possible pathophysiological mechanisms that could contribute to the bleeding tendency in DF and DHF. This is a case-control study that enrolled adults with DF without bleeding, DF and bleeding complications and DHF during the defervescence period. Healthy controls were also included. Peripheral blood counts, inflammatory, microvascular permeability, fibrinolysis, endothelial cell activation markers, and thrombin generation were evaluated in patients and controls. We included 26 adults with DF and bleeding, 33 adults with DF without complications, 8 adults with DHF and 67 healthy controls. The severities of the bleeding episodes were similar between patients with DC and DHF. Patients with DF with bleedings and DHF had lower platelet counts than DF without bleeding. Levels of the tumoral necrosis factor (TNF)-?, thrombomodulin (TM) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) were significantly increased in dengue groups than in healthy controls, but similar among patients. Plasma levels of the soluble receptor 1 of the vascular endothelial growth factor (sVEGR-R1) were increased and plasma levels of sVEGF-R2 were decreased in patients with DF and bleedings and in patients with DHF. In DHF patients presented a non-significant increased in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) serum levels and a significantly higher VEGF/sVEGF-R2 ratio...