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Sticky platelet syndrome (SPS) is a disorder with familial occurrence and autosomal dominant trait characterized by platelet hyperaggregability in response to a low concentration of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and/or epinephrine (EPI). The etiology of SPS may be associated with platelet microRNAs (miRNAs), which are considered as potential biomarkers of platelet function and antiplatelet therapy. We were monitoring the expression of platelet miRNAs in patients with laboratory diagnosed SPS and healthy controls. We have found a statistically significant increased expression of both miR-423-5p and miR-338-3p as well as a statistically significant decreased expression of miR-425-5p between the group of patients with diagnosed SPS type II and the group of healthy controls, which seems to be an interesting issue for a further research.

Chemotherapy and targeted therapy have significantly improved the prognosis of oncohaematological patients. Antineoplastic treatment can cause adverse cardiovascular effects known as cardiotoxicity, which requires modification, interruption or withdrawal of life-saving drugs. The onset of cardiotoxicity may depend on the class, dose, route, and duration of anticancer drug administration and individual risk factors. Standard chemotherapy exerts its toxic effect mainly by inducing oxidative stress and genomic instability. At the same time, new targeted molecules work by interfering with signalling pathways that are important for tumour cells and cardiomyocytes. For example, Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors interfere with phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase isoforms involved in cardiac hypertrophy, contractility, and regulation of various proteins. Off-target effects of BTK inhibitors are associated with an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation. This review summarises current knowledge about the cardiotoxic effects of targeted therapies used in haematology. Fig. 2, Tab. 3, Ref. 44, on-line full text (Free, PDF) www.cardiology.sk [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelets are essential in maintaining blood homeostasis and regulating several inflammatory processes. They constantly interact with immune cells, have immunoregulatory functions, and can affect, through immunologically active substances, endothelium, leukocytes, and other immune response components. In reverse, inflammatory and immune processes can activate platelets, which might be significant in autoimmune disease progression and arising complications. Thus, considering this interplay, targeting platelet activity may represent a new approach to treatment of autoimmune diseases. This review aims to highlight the role of platelets in the pathogenic mechanisms of the most frequent chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases to identify gaps in current knowledge and to provide potential new targets for medical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents one of the leading causes of death during pregnancy. The greatest risk for it is the presence of medical or family history of VTE, stillbirth, cesarean section and selected thrombophilia. Appropriate thromboprophylaxis has the potential to decrease the risk of VTE in at-risk pregnant patients by 60–70%. Based on this, the authors reviewed the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases to identify the possibilities of thromboprophylaxis in pregnant patients with a high risk of VTE. Moreover, they summarized its management in specific situations, such as cesarean delivery or neuraxial blockade. Currently, low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) are the preferred drugs for anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis in the course of pregnancy and postpartum due to easy administration and a lower rate of adverse events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a minimally invasive treatment for liver cancer, often employed as a bridging therapy or destination treatment for non-operable cases. This case report discusses an 82-year-old woman with a large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent elective TACE due to the high surgical risk associated with her tumor size. Unexpectedly, the patient experienced liver rupture 20 h post-procedure, leading to acute surgical intervention. Despite successful hemostasis during surgery, the patient succumbed to progressive multi-organ failure. We aimed to search the PubMed database for documented cases of ruptured HCC after TACE. This study highlights risk factors for spontaneous HCC rupture and specific factors associated with TACE-induced rupture. Transarterial embolization (TAE) is currently favored as the treatment method for spontaneous ruptures, while the optimal therapy for TACE-induced ruptures remains unclear. In conclusion, this case underscores the importance of recognizing the rare complication of HCC rupture post-TACE and the need for personalized risk assessment. While TAE emerges as a primary treatment choice, the lack of consensus necessitates further studies to establish evidence-based approaches for managing this uncommon yet life-threatening complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a life-threatening complication of heparin therapy (both unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin). In our study, we examined a group of 122 patients with suspected HIT. The samples of all patients were analyzed in the first step using an immunoassay (ID-PaGIA Heparin/PF4, Hemos1L-Acustar HIT IgG, ZYMUTEST HIA Monostrip IgG) to detect the presence of antibodies against heparin–PF4 complexes (platelet factor 4). When the immunoassay was positive, the sample was subsequently analyzed for HIT with a functional flow cytometry assay, the HITAlert kit, the purpose of which was to demonstrate the ability of the antibodies present to activate platelets. A diagnosis of HIT can be made only after a positive functional test result. In this article, we present an overview of our practical experience with the use of the new functional method of analysis, HIT, with flow cytometry. In this work, we compared the mutual sensitivity of two functional tests, SRA and the flow cytometry HITAlert kit, in patients perceived as being at risk for HIT. This work aims to delineate the principle, procedure, advantages, pitfalls, and possibilities of the application of the functional test HITAlert using flow cytometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thromboembolism is the third leading vascular disease, with a high annual incidence of 1 to 2 cases per 1000 individuals within the general population. The broader term venous thromboembolism generally refers to deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and/or a combination of both. Therefore, thromboembolism can affect both – the central and peripheral veins. Arterial thromboembolism causes systemic ischemia by disturbing blood flow and oxygen supply to organs, tissues, and cells causing, therefore, apoptosis and/or necrosis in the affected tissues. Currently applied antithrombotic drugs used, e.g. to protect affected individuals against ischemic stroke, demonstrate significant limitations. For example, platelet inhibitors possess only moderate efficacy. On the other hand, thrombolytics and anticoagulants significantly increase hemorrhage. Contextually, new approaches are extensively under consideration to develop next-generation antithrombotics with improved efficacy and more personalized and targeted application. To this end, phytochemicals show potent antithrombotic efficacy demonstrated in numerous in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models as well as in clinical evaluations conducted on healthy individuals and persons at high risk of thrombotic events, such as pregnant women (primary care), cancer, and COVID-19-affected patients (secondary and tertiary care). Here, we hypothesized that specific antithrombotic and antiplatelet effects of plant-derived compounds might be of great clinical utility in primary, secondary, and tertiary care. To increase the efficacy, precise patient stratification based on predictive diagnostics is essential for targeted protection and treatments tailored to the person in the framework of 3P medicine. Contextually, this paper aims at critical review toward the involvement of specific classes of phytochemicals in antiplatelet and anticoagulation adapted to clinical needs. The paper exemplifies selected plant-derived drugs, plant extracts, and whole plant foods/herbs demonstrating their specific antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and fibrinolytic activities relevant for primary, secondary, and tertiary care. One of the examples considered is antithrombotic and antiplatelet protection specifically relevant for COVID-19-affected patient groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and reliable assessment of the dabigatran effect is desirable in dabigatran treated patients with uncontrolled bleeding or before acute surgery. The aim of this study was to study the anticoagulant effects of dabigatran in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) as assessed by the whole blood assays ROTEM, and how data from these methods correlate to plasma dabigatran concentrations measured by Hemoclot. ROTEM was performed with ROTEM Gamma (Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany). The assays used in our study were Ex-tem and In-tem assay. Plasma dabigatran concentrations were determined by hemoclot thrombin inhibitor assay (Hyphen BioMed, France) at trough and post-dose in 27 patients on dabigatran 150 mg BID. Median plasma dabigatran concentrations at trough were 74 ng/mL (11.2–250) and post-dose (2 h after ingestion) 120 ng/mL (31–282). The ROTEM clotting time (CT) and maximum clot firmnes (MCF) correlated strongly with dabigatran concentrations when activated with the reagents Ex-tem (p < 0.0001) and In-tem (p < 0.0001). In summary, in our study, we have found that the ROTEM variable CT and MCF, when activated with triggers Ex-tem and In-tem, has a strong and highly significant correlation with the plasma dabigatran concentration in a real-life population of AF-patients and could thereby be an alternative to estimate dabigatran concentration in emergency situations. However, additional studies are needed to further validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequencing of the gene encoding for von Willebrand factor (VWF) has brought new insight into the physiology of VWF as well as its pathophysiology in the context of von Willebrand disease (VWD). Molecular testing in VWD patients has shown high variability in the overall genetic background of this condition. Almost 600 mutations and many disease-causing mechanisms have been described in the 35 years since the VWF gene was identified. Genetic testing in VWD patients is now available in many centers as a part of the VWD diagnostic algorithm. Molecular mechanisms leading to types 2 and 3 VWD are well characterized; thus, information from genetic analysis in these VWD types may be beneficial for their correct classification. However, the molecular basis of type 1 VWD is still not fully elucidated and most likely represents a multifactorial disorder reflecting a combined impact of environmental and genetic factors within and outside of VWF . Regarding sequencing methods, the previous gold-standard Sanger sequencing is gradually being replaced with next-generation sequencing methods that are more cost- and time-effective. Instead of gene-by-gene approaches, gene panels of genes for coagulation factors and related proteins have recently become a center of attention in patients with inherited bleeding disorders, especially because a high proportion of VWD patients, mainly those with low VWF plasma levels (type 1), appear to be free of mutations in VWF. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) are accessible in a very limited number of laboratories. Results from these studies have presented several genes other than VWF or ABO possibly affecting VWF levels, and such findings will need further validation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edoxaban is an oral anticoagulant drug and a direct factor Xa inhibitor. However, it is still not fully understood if and how edoxaban impacts platelet function. This prospective study aimed to assess in vitro platelet function in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving edoxaban. It was a single centre study quantifying platelet aggregation in 20 patients treated with edoxaban by light transmission aggregometry. The thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP)-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower 2 h after taking edoxaban compared to baseline value (44.7 ± 32.03% vs. 73.3 ± 25.55%; p < 0.0001). In addition, we did not find any significant difference in results between the patient groups. The TRAP-induced platelet aggregation is reduced in non-valvular AF patients receiving edoxaban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edoxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor (FXa), is the fourth direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) approved for clinical use. As the main adverse event is bleeding, it is relevant whether edoxaban has additional effects on platelet function. We aimed to assess in vitro aggregation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving edoxaban. We evaluated 20 AF patients treated with edoxaban. We assessed light transmittance platelet aggregation (LTA) with 100 nmol/L γ-thrombin. The LTA was performed at 2 time-points. The thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower 2 hours after edoxaban was taken compared to baseline measurement (27.25% ± 30.8% vs. 60.35% ± 33.3%). In addition, we also performed 16 subanalyses in order to identify the differences in the outcome of different comorbidities, age, dosage, liver and kidney function tests, and concomitant treatment. Results of the subgroup analyses were consistent with the findings of the main analysis; there was no apparent heterogeneity across the prespecified subgroups. The thrombin-induced platelet aggregation is reduced in non-valvular AF patients receiving edoxaban. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pediatrie pro Praxi is the property of SOLEN sro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic plasma cell disorder characterized by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow and presence of monoclonal protein in the blood or urine. Diverse hemostatic abnormalities have been reported in patients with myeloma which predispose the patient to bleeding and also thrombosis. The aim of this study was to measure the concentrations of serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, D-dimer, and von Willebrand factor in patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed multiple myeloma before treatment, during therapy, and after successful therapy. The working hypothesis was that all of these factors reflect the total body burden of tumor. Angiogenic and coagulation activity should therefore decrease after successful therapy. Our study indicates that selected prothrombotic abnormalities occur in patients with MM, which may contribute to the increased risk of venous thromboembolism observed in these patients. The levels of our 3 parameters were strongly elevated in patient with newly diagnosed MM and also in patients with clinical stage III based on International Staging System criteria. Furthermore, there was a correlation between prognostic disease stages in all study population. It would be appropriate to include angiogenic and coagulation parameters into prognostic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability of the selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and examine the association between these SNPs and risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with sticky platelet syndrome (SPS). We examined 84 patients with SPS and history of DVT and 101 healthy individuals. We were interested in 2 SNPs within platelet endothelial aggregation receptor 1 (PEAR1) gene (rs12041331 and rs12566888), 2 SNPs within mkurine retrovirus integration site 1 gene (rs7940646 and rs1874445), 1 SNP within Janus kinase 2 gene (rs2230722), 1 SNP within FCER1G gene (rs3557), 1 SNP within pro-platelet basic protein (rs442155), 4 SNPs within alpha2A adrenergic receptor 2A (ADRA2A; rs1800545, rs4311994, rs11195419, and rs553668), and 1 SNP within sonic hedgehog gene (rs2363910). We identified 2 protective SNPs within PEAR1 gene and 1 risk SNP within ADRA2A gene (PEAR1: rs12041331 and rs12566888; ADRA2A: rs1800545). A haplotype analysis of 4 SNPs within ADRA2A gene identified a risk haplotype aagc (P = .003). Moreover, we identified 1 protective haplotype within PEAR1 gene (AT, P = .004). Our results support the idea that genetic variability of PEAR1 and ADRA2A genes is associated with platelet hyperaggregability manifested as venous thromboembolism. The study also suggests a possible polygenic type of SPS heredity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivaroxaban and apixaban are direct oral anticoagulants whose target specificity is to activate factor X (FXa). It is still not fully understood how xabans impact platelet function. This single-center observational study aimed to assess in vitro platelet function in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving rivaroxaban or apixaban. It examined quantification of platelet aggregation assessed by light transmission aggregometry in thirty-four patients treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban. The thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower 2 h after taking selected xabans compared to baseline value (69.55 ± 32.15% vs. 44.79 ± 34.97.9%; p < 0.0001). This effect was only observed in patients who received rivaroxaban or apixaban for more than 1 week. The thrombin-induced platelet aggregation is reduced in cardiovascular patients receiving rivaroxaban or apixaban. This reduction is likely to depend on the duration of the treatment. Duration of treatment should be considered in future studies focusing on DOACs and platelet aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of direct oral anticoagulants has caused a paradigm shift in the management of thrombosis. Rivaroxaban and apixaban are 2 direct oral anticoagulants whose target specificity is activated factor X (FXa). However, it is still not fully understood if and how xabans impact platelet function. This observational study aimed to assess the in vitro platelet function in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving xabans. This was a single-center study quantifying platelet aggregation in 41 patients treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban by light transmission aggregometry. The thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP)-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower 2 hours after taking rivaroxaban or apixaban compared to baseline value (56.15% [8.53%] vs 29.51% [12.9%]; P = .000). Moreover, concomitant use of angiotensin-converting enzyme blockers, proton pump inhibitors, and statins reduces the efficiency of xabans. The TRAP-induced platelet aggregation was reduced in patients with cardiovascular disease 2 hours after receiving xabans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Dabigatran is a direct thrombin inhibitor. As the main adverse event is bleeding, it is relevant whether dabigatran has additional effects on platelet function. If so, it could affect the bleeding risk. We aimed to assess in vitro aggregation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving dabigatran.Design: We evaluated 32 AF patients treated with dabigatran (study group) and 18 non-anticoagulated non-AF blood donors (control group). We assessed light transmittance platelet aggregation (LTA) with 100 nmol/L γ-thrombin in both groups. The LTA was performed at two time-points in our dabigatran group of patients.Results: The thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower two hours after dabigatran was taken compared to baseline measurement (9% ± 6% vs. 29% ± 21%) in our study group. Moreover, we observed that the baseline value of platelet aggregation in patients on dabigatran treatment was significantly lower compared to healthy volunteers (29% ± 21% vs. 89 ± 8). However, one subanalysis showed that this significant reduction in platelet aggregation at baseline was only observed in patients who received dabigatran for over a week.Conclusion: The thrombin-induced platelet aggregation is reduced in non-valvular AF patients receiving dabigatran after a week-long therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of direct oral anticoagulants has caused a paradigm shift in thrombosis management. The direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran seems to obstruct tenase complex by inhibiting thrombin generated in the initial phase and feed back to the amplification phase of cell-based coagulation reactions. However, it is still not fully understood if and how dabigatran impact platelet function. This observational study aimed to assess in vitro platelet function in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving dabigatran. Platelet aggregability was tested with platelet-rich plasma using platelet aggregometry (PACKS-4 aggregometer). Blood samples were stimulated with thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP; 32μmmol/L). Results: A total of 28 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation were enrolled. The mean age was 71.57 (9.75) years (range: 50-87 years), 16 patients were women, and the mean CHA2DS2VASc score was 3.93 (1.41). All patients began treatment with dabigatran as initial anticoagulant treatment. The minimum term use of dabigatran was 18 days. Dabigatran doses were 110 mg (57.14%) or 150 mg (42.86%) twice daily. The TRAPinduced platelet aggregation was significantly lower 2 hours after taking dabigatran compared to baseline value (79.39 [13.38] vs 90.14 [10.5]). Conclusion: The TRAP-induced platelet aggregation was reduced in cardiovascular patients 2 hours after receiving dabigatran. Our findings could have some important clinical implications because platelet aggregation and coagulation cascade are affected at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patient database at the First Department of Internal Medicine in Martin, the Central Slovak Institute for Cardiac and Vascular Diseases in Banska Bystrica, and the National Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Bratislava was searched to identify patients with benign tumors of the heart seen during the 5-year period between 2011 and 2016. Forty-one patients with primary cardiac myxomas were identified and their medical records were reviewed for details pertaining to presenting symptoms, staging modalities, treatment approaches, and outcomes. Most of the studied patients were diagnosed with echocardiography (n=35, 85%). The occurrence of the tumor was higher in the female population (n=25, 61%). The most common presenting symptoms were dyspnoea (n=17, 42%), chest pain (n=3, 7%), or pain and paraesthesia of the limbs (n=2, 5%). Acute embolic event due to embolization of tumor fragments resulted in cerebral stroke (n=5, 12%). All patients were treated by resection. Only one comorbid patient died due to multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome two weeks after the resection. The most common postoperative complication was bleeding (n=2, 5%) and infection (n=2, 5%). The early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are often curative, with very low risk of recurrence. Postoperative survival is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disequilibrium of hemostasis is central to the pathogenesis of all thromboses, and platelets are essential for primary hemostasis. The platelet membrane glycoprotein receptor is involved in the clot formation in blood; therefore, the changes in related genes could impair platelet aggregation in patients with sticky platelet syndrome (SPS). Patients with SPS who experienced fetal loss were shown to harbor a risk haplotype at GP6 locus. The aim of the study was to examine the genetic linkage of this selected risk haplotype with single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in the coding sequence of the GP6 gene in order to identify possible functional SNVs in association with SPS and fetal loss. A total of 37 patients with SPS manifested fetal loss, and 42 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The SPS was diagnosed with platelet aggregometry. The SNVs were determined by dideoxy sequencing and high-resolution melting analysis. The missense variations were detected in patients with risk haplotype only. The association analysis showed association of the minor alleles with the SPS manifested by fetal loss as follows—rs1671152 (odds ratio [OR]: 4.667, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.462-14.89, P = .006), rs2304167 (OR: 5.085, 95% CI: 1.605-16.10, P = .003), and rs1654416 (OR: 5.085, 95% CI: 1.605-16.10, P = .003). Using the Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm, the estimated minor haplotype with predicted protein residue PEAN was significantly associated with the given phenotype (OR: 4.746, 95% CI: 1.486-15.15, P = .005). We have shown that haplotype PEAN associated with SPS and manifested by fetal loss and suggest that the mechanism involved in the action of GPVI has significant effect on GPVI-mediated signal transduction through Syk-phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital fibrinogen disorders are caused by mutations in one of the three fibrinogen genes that affect the synthesis, assembly, intracellular processing, stability or secretion of fibrinogen. Functional studies of mutant Bβ-chains revealed the importance of individual residues as well as three-dimensional structures for fibrinogen assembly and secretion. This study describes two novel homozygous fibrinogen Bβ chain mutations in two Slovak families with afibrinogenemia and hypofibrinogenemia. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all subjects with the aim of identifying the causative mutation. Coagulation-related tests and rotational thromboelastometry were performed. All exons and exon-intron boundaries of the fibrinogen genes (FGA, FGB and FGG) were amplified by PCR followed by direct sequencing. Sequence analysis of the three fibrinogen genes allowed us to identify two novel homozygous mutations in the FGB gene. A novel Bβ chain truncation (BβGln180Stop) was detected in a 28-year-old afibrinogenemic man with bleeding episodes including repeated haemorrhaging into muscles, joints, and soft tissues, and mucocutaneous bleeding and a novel Bβ missense mutation (BβTyr368His) was found in a 62-year-old hypofibrinogenemic man with recurrent deep and superficial venous thromboses of the lower extremities. The novel missense mutation was confirmed by molecular modelling. Both studying the molecular anomalies and the modelling of fibrinogenic mutants help us to understand the extremely complex machinery of fibrinogen biosynthesis and finally better assess its correlation with the patient's clinical course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Intervencní a Akutní Kardiologie is the property of SOLEN sro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Intervencní a Akutní Kardiologie is the property of SOLEN sro and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is obstruction of blood flow through the SVC. It is a medical emergency and most often manifests in patients with a malignant disease process within the thorax. A patient with SVCS requires immediate diagnostic evaluation and therapy. Presentation of case A 33-years-old woman presented with complaints of dyspnoea and chest pain. Computer tomography revealed a large mass in the anterior mediastinum. This mass compressed surrounding structures. Stenting was indicated for early symptoms of SVCS. The diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) was confirmed with biopsy. The patient’s stage II HL has been subsequently treated with six cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine (ABVD), followed by radiotherapy. Presently she is doing well. Discussion Although lymphomas are a common cause of SVCS but almost always SVCS is caused by non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). HL despite its common presentation with mediastinal lymphadenopathy rarely causes SVCS. Conclusion Lymphomas are a common cause of SVCS in young age. HL may present as SVCS. Pathological confirmation of diagnosis should be done before initiating therapy while dealing with a case of SVCS. SVC stenting is effective and has few complications in patients with SVCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is reportedly the most common inherited bleeding disorder. This disorder develops as a result of defects and/or deficiency of the plasma protein von Willebrand factor (VWF). Laboratory testing for VWF-related disorders requires the assessment of both VWF level and VWF activity, the latter requiring multiple assays. As an additional step, an evaluation of VWF structural features by multimer analysis is useful in selective investigations. Multimer analysis is also important for the selection of a suitable VWF therapy preparation (desmopressin, VWF/FVIII concentrate, recombinant VWF) and the determination of the correct dose for the patient. Based on clinical and laboratory findings, including the analysis of VWF multimers, we classified our patients into individual types of VWD. Our study group included 58 patients. The study group consisted of 66% (38 patients) with VWD type 1, 5% (3 patients) with VWD type 2, 7% (4 patients) with VWD type 3, 5% (3 patients) with mixed type 1/2A VWD, and 17% (10 patients) comprising an unclassified group. In this article, we provide an overview of our practical experience using a new complementary method—the analysis of von Willebrand factor multimers with a semi-automatic analyzer Hydrasys 2 scan. We explain the principle, procedure, advantages, and pitfalls associated with the introduction of the VWF multimer analysis methodology into standard VWD diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to evaluate GP6 gene in patients with sticky platelet syndrome (SPS) and fetal loss. Platelet aggregability was tested with platelet-rich plasma using PACKS-4 aggregometer (Helena Laboratories). High-resolution melting analysis on LightCycler 480 II (Roche Diagnostics) was used for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. We examined 64 patients with SPS and 54 control participants. We found significantly higher occurrence of 5 SNPs in patients with SPS versus controls (rs1671152, rs1654433, rs1613662, rs1654416, and rs2304167). Moreover, the haplotype analysis showed a significantly higher occurrence of 7 haplotypes in patients with SPS compared to controls (acgg and aagg in GP6_5reg haplotype; ccgt in GP6_3reg haplotype; gg and ta in GP6_REG haplotype; SKTH and PEAN in GP6_PEAN haplotype). Our results, especially higher occurrence of 4 nonsynonymous variants within the coding region, support the idea that GP6 polymorphisms are associated with the platelet hyperaggregability accompanied by fetal loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]