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Biomedical subjects

J M Lusher

Publications and source records attributed to J M Lusher.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Hematology.

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Blood Coagulation Factors↗
PubMed1996

Screening and diagnosis of coagulation disorders.

After clinical assessment, pertinent history, and family history, the clinician often has a good idea concerning the cause of a patient's bleeding. The most appropriate laboratory tests can then be ordered. Routine screening tests include a complete blood cell count, platelet count, and evaluation of a peripheral blood sample, a prothrombin time, and an activated partial thromboplastin time. Thrombocytopenia may result from idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or, less commonly, acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, or a particular drug that a patient is taking. Again, the patient's history, physical findings, and evaluation of a well-prepared peripheral blood smear will be helpful in determining the cause of the patient's thrombocytopenia. An isolated prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time may result from low levels of factors VIII, IX, or XI. A slightly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and a moderate decrease in factor VIII may reflect von Willebrand disease or the "carrier" state for hemophilia A. In women a greatly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and very low levels of factor VIII (< 3%) most often result from an acquired factor VIII inhibitor (autoantibody against factor VIII) or from severe (type III) von Willebrand disease. If von Willebrand disease is suspected (because of menorrhagia with or without other mucous membrane bleeding, a positive family history, and a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time), more specific laboratory tests for this disease should be done. These include assays of factor VIII, von Willebrand factor antigen, von Willebrand factor activity (measured by the ristocetin cofactor assay), and template bleeding time. In von Willebrand disease the defect is in von Willebrand factor. The affected individual may have subnormal levels of structurally and functionally normal von Willebrand factor (this is called "classic" or type I von Willebrand disease) or may produce von Willebrand factor that is structurally and functionally abnormal (von Willebrand disease type 2). Individuals who inherit a gene for von Willebrand disease from both parents have severe (type 3) von Willebrand disease and will have extremely low levels (< 3%) of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII and will have a very prolonged bleeding time. In most populations type I disease is the most common form, whereas type 3 is the least commonly encountered form. It should be noted that levels of von Willebrand factor can be influenced by the patient's blood type (persons who have blood type AB have 60% to 70% higher levels than do persons who have blood type O) and can be elevated during pregnancy, stress, and hyperthyroidism. The two major functions of von Willebrand factor are to serve as a "bridge" between platelets and injury sites in blood vessel walls and to protect circulating factor VIII from rapid proteolytic degradation. Thus, if a patient has either too little or functionally abnormal von Willebrand factor, the bleeding time will be prolonged and factor VIII will be decreased (because it is not being protected by von Willebrand factor). It should be determined which type of von Willebrand disease a particular patient has because treatment depends on type. Multimeric analysis of von Willebrand factor can be done with use of sodium dodecyl sulfate gels, radiolabeled antibody to von Willebrand's factor, and autoradiography. This will allow visualization of the multimeric structure of von Willebrand factor. In type I disease all bands are present, whereas in the type 2 variants 2A and 2B no high-molecular-weight multimers are seen. Desmopressin acetate (which is available in parenteral form for intravenous use and in a highly concentrated intranasal spray formulation) is the treatment of choice for classic type I disease. The drug effects a rapid release of von Willebrand factor from endothelial cell stor

Blood Coagulation Disorders↗
PubMed1996

Pharmacokinetics of von Willebrand factor and factor VIIIC in patients with severe von Willebrand disease (type 3 VWD): estimation of the rate of factor VIIIC synthesis. Cooperative Study Groups.

Nine patients (10 infusions) with a confirmed diagnosis of type 3 VWD were infused with von Willebrand factor (human), a preparation of von Willebrand factor (VWF) with a very low factor VIII content. Each patient was infused with one dose of approximately 50 or 100 iu ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RiCoF) per kg body weight. Bleeding times were performed during the 24 h period after infusion. Plasma samples were obtained over the 96 h period after infusion and were analysed for factor VIII coagulant activity (FVIIIC), VWF:RiCoF, von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag), and multimers. The FVIIIC data were analysed by non-linear least-squares analysis assuming constant FVIIIC 'synthesis' and exponential decay. The VWF data were fitted for exponential decay. The average decay rates for FVIIIC, VWF:RiCoF and VWF:Ag were 0.041, 0.061 and 0.056 respectively. The average calculated 'synthesis' rate for FVIIIC was 6.4 u/dl/h. The synthesis of FVIIIC was slightly faster and the decay slightly slower following the infusion of 100 iu VWF:RiCoF/kg than of 50 iu VWF:RiCoF/kg. Correction of the bleeding time was strongly dose dependent. At 4 h post infusion the median bleeding time was 9 min following a dose of 50 iu VWF:RiCoF/kg versus 3 min with a dose of 100 iu VWF:RiCoF/kg. There was no decrease in the bleeding time until the level of VWF:Ag or VWF:RiCoF reached > 100 u/dl.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) in the treatment of internal bleeding in patients with factor VIII and IX inhibitors.

Recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) was used on a compassionate use basis to treat 51 episodes of internal bleeding in 43 patients. All had become refractory to (or were not candidates for) other therapeutic agents. 26 of the 43 patients had hemophilia A and FVIII inhibitor antibodies, 13 had acquired FVIII inhibitors, 2 had hemophilia B and FIX inhibitors, and 2 had other coagulopathies, of 50 episodes of internal bleeding evaluated 76% had an excellent or effective response to rFVIIa. The average dosage given was 84 mu g/kg; the median number of doses given was 38. rFVIIa appears to be a very valuable addition to one's therapeutic armamentarium for treating serious bleeding episodes in inhibitor patients.

Antibody Formation↗
PubMed1996

Safety and efficacy of monoclonal antibody purified factor IX concentrate in previously untreated patients with hemophilia B.

The safety and efficacy of a monoclonal antibody purified factor IX concentrate were evaluated in two continuing trials of 32 previously untreated patients with mild, moderate, or severe hemophilia B. Patients were evaluated every 2 weeks for 24 weeks and every 3 months thereafter for at least 1 year. No patients became positive for human immunodeficiency virus antibody or hepatitis C virus antibody during the trial. Two patients developed a false-positive hepatitis B core antibody, one transiently, but neither had elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). None of the 25 patients evaluable for non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis by strict International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis criteria developed elevated levels of ALT indicative of posttransfusion infection. Anaphylaxis occurred in one subject who also developed an inhibitor to factor IX (19.3 Bethesda units). Five of the eight adverse events reported (63%) were mild in severity, and the relationship of three of these to therapy was considered remote. Hemostasis with monoclonal antibody purified factor IX concentrate was excellent in all patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Characterization of autoantibodies against the platelet glycoprotein antigens IIb/IIIa in childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura.

The majority of children with idiopathic thrombocytopenia (ITP) have an acute self-limiting course and no diagnostic test has been identified which will predict the course of thrombocytopenia and detect those with the chronic autoimmune form. The detection of autoantibodies directed against the platelet glycoprotein complex IIB/IIIa, may identify patients with chronic ITP. Serum anti-GP IIb/IIIa antibodies were assessed by the indirect MAIPA assay in 54 children with immune thrompocytopenia at initial presentation along with an additional 7 children previously diagnosed with chronic ITP, to determine if there was a difference in antibody positivity between acute and chronic ITP patients, and whether the identification of antibodies could be used as a predictive test at diagnosis. There was no significant difference in the percentage of antibodies detected in children classified with acute ITP (27/40-68%) compared to children with chronic ITP (13/21-62%, P > 0.05). Patients with acute ITP had significantly lower mean platelet counts at diagnosis compared to the chronic ITP group (16,225/mm3 vs 32,250/mm3, P < 0.05), though there was no significant difference in the bleeding manifestations between the acute and chronic ITP groups. Serum anti-GP IIb/IIIa antibodies are detected in a high percentage of children with ITP and autoantibodies appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of both acute and chronic ITP. The detection of anti-GP IIb/IIIa antibodies at diagnosis, however, does not appear to be a useful prognostic test in childhood ITP.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Congenital thrombocytopenias.

Congenital thrombocytopenias are rare bleeding disorders but must be included in the differential diagnosis when investigating a young infant with chronic thrombocytopenia. Several of these syndromes have associated defects of immune, renal, or skeletal systems in addition to thrombocytopenia. These can be categorized into two groups depending on the presence or absence of bone marrow hypoplasia. The majority of these disorders are associated with a mild bleeding tendency and thus may be missed until the affected individuals experience excessive postoperative or posttraumatic hemorrhage. In adults, this entity must be considered when evaluating a patient with thrombocytopenia who is unresponsive to the medical management of immune thrombocytopenia. Other than platelet transfusion, no specific therapy is available for these disorders. A test dose of desmopressin may be attempted in a nonbleeding patient (to see if it will shorten the bleeding time) prior to using it for treatment of a bleeding episode or surgical prophylaxis. Bone marrow transplantation may prove curative in a select group of thrombocytopenic syndromes.

Albinism↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of six commercial plasma references for factor VIII, factor IX and von Willebrand factor. On behalf of the Subcommittee for Factor VIII and IX of the Scientific and Standardization Committee of the ISTH.

Six brands of normal reference plasma produced in the United States, with assigned assay values for factor VII and IX and, in four instances, ristocetin cofactor and van Willebrand antigen, were assayed in nine coagulation laboratories in academic institutions in the same country. Differences in mean assays of reference plasmas, as a percent of labelled potency, were significant and were greater than differences among laboratories. Standard methods of assigning potency to commercial reference plasmas are recommended.

Antigens↗
PubMed1994

Immune status of human immunodeficiency virus seropositive and seronegative hemophiliacs infused for 3.5 years with recombinant factor VIII. The Kogenate Study Group.

Recent studies suggest that treatment of hemophiliacs with highly purified factor VIII concentrates may preserve immune function. To test this hypothesis, we prospectively studied 51 hemophilic patients (21 human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] seropositive and 30 seronegative) who were on home therapy exclusively with recombinant factor VIII (Kogenate, Miles Laboratory, Berkeley, CA) for 3.5 years. Patients, all of whom had been previously treated with plasma-derived factor VIII concentrates, were monitored every 6 months with T-lymphocyte subsets and beta 2-microglobulin levels. Mean rate of change in absolute CD4 cell counts, calculated from regression slopes for individual patients, showed a small but statistically significant decrease over the 3.5-year study period for HIV seropositive hemophiliacs. No decrease in CD4 cell counts was seen in HIV seronegative hemophiliacs when the data for children under age 6 years were excluded from the analysis. beta 2-microglobulin levels and CD8 cell counts remained unchanged. These data show stability of immunologic parameters in HIV seronegative hemophiliacs, and a small decrease in CD4 cell counts in HIV seropositive hemophiliacs treated with recombinant factor VIII.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMed1994

Transfusion therapy in congenital coagulopathies.

Transfusion therapy for the congenital coagulopathies has changed considerably in recent years. Improved donor screening, purification, and virucidal methodologies have resulted in much safer plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates. Additionally, synthetic products such as rF VIII and DDAVP are licensed and available. For persons with hemophilia B, nonthrombogenic coagulation F IX concentrates are available. Treatment recommendations for each of the congenital coagulopathies are discussed.

Autoantibodies↗
PubMed1994

Use of prothrombin complex concentrates in management of bleeding in hemophiliacs with inhibitors--benefits and limitations.

In summary, PCCs and APCCs are moderately effective in controlling bleeding in inhibitor patients. However, they are not as effective in controlling or preventing bleeding as factor VIII (or factor IX) concentrates in hemophiliacs who do not have inhibitors. Their precise mechanism of action is still poorly understood, and there is no readily available laboratory test for monitoring patient response. While viral safety is far less of an issue with PCCs than it was a few years ago, and while thrombogenicity is far less of a problem in using PCCs and APCCs in inhibitor patients than it is in persons with hemophilia B, one must keep in mind the risk of acute myocardial infarction. Frequent, repetitive doses may be hazardous. PCCs and APCCs represent a valuable part of one's therapeutic armamentarium in managing bleeding in inhibitor patients. However, one must be aware of their limitations and potential complications, and use them appropriately.

Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic↗