In-vitro and in-vivo consequences of mutations in the von Willebrand factor cleaving protease ADAMTS13 in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a disease characterized by microvascular thrombosis, often associated with deficiency of the vonWillebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease ADAMTS13. We investigated the spectrum of ADAMTS13 gene mutations in patients with TTP and congenital ADAMTS13 deficiency to establish the consequences on ADAMTS13 processing and activity. We describe five missense (V88M, G1239V, R1060W, R1123C and R1219W), 1 nonsense (W1016Stop) and 1 insertion (82_83insT) mutations.

Size regulation of von Willebrand factor-mediated platelet thrombi by ADAMTS13 in flowing blood.

The metalloproteinase ADAMTS13 regulates the size of released von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers bound to endothelial cells, but it is unknown whether it can cleave plasma VWF during thrombogenesis. To address this issue, we perfused blood over immobilized VWF and used videomicroscopy to visualize an activation-independent platelet aggregation process mediated by soluble VWF at shear rates greater than 10 000 s(-1). At normal Ca2+ concentration, platelets formed rolling as well as surface-attached clusters that grew larger during the first 5 minutes but then lost more than 70% of their mass by 10 minutes.

Rituximab prevents recurrence of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a case report.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disorder of small vessels that is associated with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13. The presence of anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies is considered a factor predisposing to relapses. Despite close monitoring and intensive plasma treatment, in these patients acute episodes are still associated with substantial morbidity and mortality rates, and the optimal therapeutic option should be prevention of relapses.

Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor regulate ADAMTS-13, its major cleaving protease.

ADAMTS-13, the metalloprotease that disposes physiologically of the most thrombogenic multimers of von Willebrand factor (VWF), tends to be low in plasma when VWF is high. We evaluated the behaviour of these two proteins in naturally occurring, experimental and clinical situations associated with VWF levels spanning from undetectable to supranormal. ADAMTS-13 was approximately 10% higher (and VWF 35% lower) in 65 healthy individuals of blood group O than in 65 individuals of groups A, B and AB.

Traumatic fracture of flexible anterior chamber intraocular lenses.

Two patients had fracture of a flexible, open-loop, anterior chamber intraocular lens (IOL) caused by ocular trauma. Case 1 was a 78-year-old woman with a three-point-fixation IOL. The two portions of the fractured lens were removed from the anterior chamber.