ADAMTS13 content in plasma-derived factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrates.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a microangiopathy syndrome caused by a congenital or acquired deficiency of ADAMTS13, a plasma metalloprotease that cleaves von Willebrand factor (VWF) and thus prevents the formation of platelet-rich thrombi in the microcirculation. TTP can be fatal if not appropriately and timely treated with the infusion of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or exchange plasmapheresis, that reverse the process of microangiopathy by removing anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies and replacing functional ADAMTS13. The treatment of TTP with FFP is not free from risks and must be administered in hospitals or clinics, owing to the substantial amount of plasma volume infused or exchanged and the frequent need of catheter application.

Treatment of von Willebrand disease with a high-purity factor VIII/von Willebrand factor concentrate: a prospective, multicenter study.

Among patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) who are unresponsive to desmopressin therapy, replacement with plasma-derived concentrates is the treatment of choice. Because prospective studies are lacking, such treatment has been largely empirical. A multicenter, prospective study has been conducted in 81 patients with VWD (15 patients with type 1, 34 with type 2, and 32 with type 3 disease) to investigate the efficacy of a high-purity factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (FVIII/VWF) concentrate for treatment of bleeding and surgical prophylaxis.