Potential supplementary utility of combined PFA-100 and functional von Willebrand factor testing for the laboratory assessment of desmopressin and factor concentrate therapy in von Willebrand disease

Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 2009 Sep;20(6):475-83. doi: 10.1097/MBC.0b013e32832da1ad.

Abstract

We performed a retrospective audit of cross-laboratory testing of desmopressin and factor concentrate therapy to assess the potential utility of supplementary testing using the PFA-100 with functional von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity testing. Data were evaluated for a large number of patients with von Willebrand disease of type 1, type 2A or type 2M, as well as a comparative subset of individuals with haemophilia or carriers of haemophilia. Laboratory testing comprised pre and postdesmopressin, or pre and postconcentrate, evaluation of factor VIII, VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) and VWF ristocetin cofactor activity as traditionally performed, supplemented with collagen-binding (VWF:CB) testing and PFA-100 closure times. In brief, both therapies tended to normalize VWF test parameters and closure times in individuals with type 1 von Willebrand disease, with the level of correction in closure times related to the level of normalization of VWF, particularly the VWF:CB. However, although occasional correction of closure times was observed in patients with type 2A or type 2M von Willebrand disease, these did not in general normalize PFA-100 closure times either with desmopressin or factor concentrate therapy. In these patients, improvement in closure times was more likely in those in whom VWF:CB values normalized or when VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratios normalized. This study confirms that there is a strong relationship between the presenting levels of plasma VWF and PFA-100 closure times, and that the supplementary combination of PFA-100 and VWF:CB testing might provide added clinical utility to current broadly applied testing strategies limited primarily to VWF:Ag, VWF ristocetin cofactor and factor VIII:coagulant. Future prospective investigations are warranted to validate these relationships and to investigate their therapeutic implications.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Blood Coagulation Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Monitoring / instrumentation
  • Drug Monitoring / methods*
  • Factor VIII / analysis
  • Hemophilia A / blood
  • Hemophilia A / drug therapy
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Platelet Function Tests / instrumentation*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 1 / blood
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 2 / blood
  • von Willebrand Disease, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • von Willebrand Diseases / blood*
  • von Willebrand Diseases / drug therapy
  • von Willebrand Factor / analysis*

Substances

  • Blood Coagulation Factors
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • prothrombin complex concentrates
  • Factor VIII
  • Deamino Arginine Vasopressin