The balance of comprehensive coagulation and fibrinolytic potential is disrupted in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Coagulation and fibrinolytic mechanisms are enhanced in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19), but disturbances in the balance of both functions in COVID-19 patients remain unclear. We assessed global coagulation and fibrinolysis in plasma from 167 COVID-19 patients (mild/moderate/severe: 62/88/17, respectively) on admission using clot-fibrinolysis waveform analysis (CFWA). Maximum coagulation velocity (|min1|) and maximum fibrinolysis velocity (|FL-min1|) were expressed as ratios relative to normal plasma. Ten patients (6.0%) developed thrombosis, 5 (3.0%) had bleeding tendency, and 13 (7.8%) died during admission. FDP levels increased with severity of COVID-19 symptoms (mild/moderate/severe; median 2.7/4.9/9.9 µg/mL, respectively). The |min1| ratios were elevated in all categories (1.27/1.61/1.58) in keeping with enhanced coagulation potential, with significant differences between mild cases and moderate to severe cases. The |FL-min1| ratios were also elevated in all groups (1.19/1.39/1.40), reflecting enhanced fibrinolytic potential. These data identified coagulation dominance in moderate to severe cases, but balanced coagulation and fibrinolysis in mild cases. There were significant differences in FDP and TAT, but no significant differences in |min1| or |FL-min1| ratios, between patients with and without thrombosis. CFWA monitoring of coagulation and fibrinolysis dynamics could provide valuable data for understanding hemostatic changes and disease status in COVID-19 patients.

Inhibitor Index in the Clot Waveform Analysis-Based Mixing Test Differentiates among Hemophilia A without and with Inhibitors, and Lupus Anticoagulant.

BACKGROUND: The mixing test is used to identify the pathway to follow-up testing and is also useful for the investigation of lupus anticoagulant (LA) positivity. "To completely correct" indicates clotting factor deficiency, while "to not correct" indicates the presence of a clotting factor inhibitor including LA. "Index of circulation anticoagulant" and/or "percent correction" is used to interpret the results of mixing studies, but it does not accurately differentiate factor inhibitors from LA. AIM: To precisely differentiate hemophilia A (HA), HA with inhibitor (HA-inh), and LA using the clot waveform analysis (CWA)-based mixing test. METHODS: Plasma samples from HA, LA, and HA-inh including acquired HA were incubated with normal plasma in 9:1, 1:1, and 1:9 mix ratios. From activated partial thromboplastin time CWA at 0-minute (immediately) and 12-minute incubation, the ratios of CWA parameters at 12 minutes/0 minute (inhibitor index) were assessed. RESULTS: The inhibitor index values of CWA parameters obtained using the mixing test in a 1:1 ratio demonstrated a significant difference between HA-inh and LA but could not differentiate LA from HA-inh completely. Plasmas used for the mixing tests in 9:1 and 1:9 ratios were able to fully distinguish between HA-inh (>0.5 BU/mL) and LA. These indices significantly correlated with inhibitor titer below 40 BU/mL (r > 0.90), possibly estimating FVIII inhibitor titer from the inhibitor index. Plasmas in HA and LA could be distinguished by mixing in a 1:1 ratio at 0 minute (immediately). CONCLUSION: The inhibitor index from CWA-based mixing tests with a 12-minute incubation could differentiate among HA, HA-inh, and LA quickly.

A Novel Assessment of Factor VIII Activity by Template Matching Utilizing Weighted Average Parameters from Comprehensive Clot Waveform Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)-based clot waveform analysis is used to evaluate the comprehensive dynamics of fibrin clot formation. In addition, the technique can be usefully utilized for the rapid assessment of factor (F)VIII procoagulant activity in various clinical settings in patients with hemophilia A (HA). We defined a novel algorithm based on the weighted average parameters from aPTT-based waveforms to devise a template-matching procedure for assessing FVIII activity (FVIII:C). METHODS: The first derivatives of original clot waveforms triggered by the aPTT reagent (Coagpia APTT-N) were used to determine weighted averages of areas surrounded by the waveform at different percentages of maximum height in various clotting factor-deficient plasmas. Prepared templates based on 50 weighted average-related parameters were compared with 78 aPTT-prolonged plasmas. RESULTS: Original nonsmoothed waveforms of the various clotting factor-deficient plasmas with prolonged aPTTs demonstrated a variety of shapes. The weighted averages were calculated after adjustments for different baselines, and the patterns seemed to be governed by the specific clotting factor deficiency. The weighted average-related parameters including baseline wedge (r 2 = 0.998) and aspect ratio (r 2 = 0.998) were highly correlated with FVIII:C levels. Template-matching analyses based on weighted average-related waveform parameters obtained from 158 samples demonstrated that the sensitivity was 97.2% and specificity was 83.3% in aPTT-prolonged plasmas (n = 78). CONCLUSION: This novel algorithm based on weighted averages of aPTT-based waveforms together with template-matching may support clinical usefulness for judging of HA and may aid clinical management in the patients in the absence of specific clotting factor assays.

Very high sensitivity of a rapid influenza diagnostic test in adults and elderly individuals within 48 hours of the onset of illness.

During influenza epidemics, Japanese clinicians routinely perform rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDTs) in the examination of patients who have an influenza-like illness, and patients with positive test results, including otherwise healthy individuals, are treated with anti-influenza drugs. However, it was recently reported that the sensitivity of RIDTs was extremely low in adult patients. We examined the sensitivity and specificity of an RIDT that is widely used in Japan, ImunoAce Flu (TAUNS, Shizuoka, Japan), in comparison to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The sensitivity and specificity of the ImunoAce Flu test were 97.1% (95%CI: 93.8-98.9) and 89.2% (95%CI: 84.1-93.1), respectively. The ImunoAce Flu test is designed to not only detect influenza A or B, but also to detect H1N1pdm09 with the use of an additional test kit (Linjudge FluA/pdm). Its sensitivity and specificity for A/H1N1pdm09 were 97.6% (95%CI: 87.4-99.9) and 92.6% (95%CI: 82.1-97.9), respectively. Thus, by consecutively testing patients with the ImunoAce Flu test followed by the Linjudge FluA/pdm test, we are able to diagnose whether a patient has A/H1N1pdm09 or A/H3N2 infection within a short time. The reliability of rapid test results seems to be much higher in Japan than in other countries, because approximately 90% of influenza patients are tested and treated within 48 hours after the onset of illness, when the influenza viral load in the upper respiratory tract is high. From the Japanese experience, RIDTs are sufficiently sensitive and highly useful, if patients are tested within 48 hours after the onset of illness.