Seminars in thrombosis and hemostasis
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Management of factor XI (FXI) deficiency in pregnancy is complicated by lack of correlation between FXI level and bleeding risk. Clinicians should be vigilant about the potential for prolonged or excessive bleeding following miscarriage or termination of pregnancy, or postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). A multidisciplinary approach along with an individual care plan is recommended to prevent bleeding complications. ⋯ Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) has also been used successfully to prevent bleeding in FXI deficiency. However, all treatments should be used with caution in pregnancy due to thrombogenic potential. Neonatal bleeding complications are rare in FXI deficiency; however, hemostatic assessment and cover are important for invasive procedures such as circumcision.
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Oct 2016
ReviewVon Willebrand Disease and Pregnancy: A Review of Evidence and Expert Opinion.
von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common, inherited bleeding disorder. There are three main types of VWD, which result in a quantitative or qualitative deficiency in von Willebrand factor (VWF) and in severe cases, also Factor VIII (FVIII). The severity of bleeding depends on the underlying pathophysiology. ⋯ Some experts consider desmopressin (DDAVP) to be the preferred initial treatment in type 1 and most type 2 VWD. DDAVP is relatively contraindicated in type 2B disease. Plasma-derived FVIII and VWF replacements are the treatment of choice in type 2B and 3 VWD and in type 1 or 2 VWD when patients do not respond to DDAVP.
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Jun 2016
ReviewLaboratory and Genetic Investigation of Mutations Accounting for Congenital Fibrinogen Disorders.
Congenital fibrinogen disorders are classified into two types of plasma fibrinogen defects: type I (quantitative fibrinogen deficiencies), that is, hypofibrinogenemia or afibrinogenemia, in which there are low or absent plasma fibrinogen antigen levels, respectively, and type II (qualitative fibrinogen deficiencies), that is, dysfibrinogenemia or hypodysfibrinogenemia, in which there are normal or reduced antigen levels associated with disproportionately low functional activity. These disorders are caused by mutations in the three fibrinogen-encoding genes FGA, FGB, and FGG. Afibrinogenemia is associated with mild to severe bleeding, whereas hypofibrinogenemia is often asymptomatic. ⋯ Qualitative fibrinogen disorders are associated with bleeding, thrombosis, or both thrombosis and bleeding, but many dysfibrinogenemias are asymptomatic. The majority of cases are caused by heterozygous missense mutations. Here, we review the laboratory and genetic diagnosis of fibrinogen gene anomalies with an updated discussion of causative mutations identified.
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Semin. Thromb. Hemost. · Jun 2016
ReviewClinical Features and Management of Congenital Fibrinogen Deficiencies.
Congenital fibrinogen disorders are rare diseases affecting either the quantity (afibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia) or the quality (dysfibrinogenemia) or both (hypodysfibrinogenemia) of plasmatic fibrinogen. Afibrinogenemia is often diagnosed at birth following prolonged umbilical cord bleeding and is characterized by spontaneous bleeding in all tissues, while hypofibrinogenemic patients are more often asymptomatic. Spontaneous spleen ruptures, painful bone cysts, cardiovascular events, and intrahepatic inclusions can complicate the clinical course of patients with quantitative fibrinogen disorders. ⋯ For the treatment and/or the prevention of bleeding, plasma-derived fibrinogen concentrates are the optimal choice. Treatment of thrombosis may be challenging. More specifically, management strategies should be tailored to each patient, taking the personal and familial history of bleeding and thrombosis, the genotype, and the specific clinical situation into account.
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In patients with critical illness, thrombocytopenia is a frequent laboratory abnormality. However frequent this may occur, a low platelet count is not an epiphenomenon, but a marker with further significance. It is always important to assess the proper cause for thrombocytopenia in critically ill patients because different underlying disorders may precipitate different diagnostic and therapeutic management strategies. ⋯ Platelets are circulating blood cells that will normally not interact with the intact vessel wall but that may swiftly respond to endothelial disruption (which is often part of the pathogenesis of critical illness) by adhering to subendothelial structures, followed by interaction with each other, thereby forming a platelet aggregate. The activated platelet (phospholipid) membrane may form a suitable surface on which further coagulation activation may occur. A low platelet count is a strong and independent predictor of an adverse outcome in critically ill patients, thereby facilitating a simple and practically risk assessment in these patients and potentially guiding the use of complex or expensive treatment strategies.