Publications by authors named "Ivo Elezovic"

Introduction: Several thrombin-generation tests are available, but few have been directly compared. Our primary aim was to investigate the correlation of two thrombin generation tests, thrombin generation assay-calibrated automated thrombogram (TGA-CAT) and INNOVANCE ETP, to factor VIII levels (FVIII:C) in a group of patients with hemophilia A. The secondary aim was to investigate inter-laboratory variation for the TGA-CAT method.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We report the case of a 76-year-old woman who presented with asymptomatic extensive erythematous. Firm plaques were noted over the right cheek. Complete blood count was normal, as was a peripheral smear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The Clauss fibrinogen method and thrombin clotting time (TCT) are still routinely used in patients with cirrhosis to define fibrinogen concentration and clotting potential. The thromboelastometric functional fibrinogen FIBTEM assay evaluates the strength of fibrin-based clots in whole blood, providing information on both quantitative deficit and fibrin polymerization disorders.

Objective: To compare these three methods of assessing fibrinogen in patients with cirrhosis of different aetiologies, characterized by impairment in fibrinogen concentration as well as functional aberrance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Obtaining a precise characterization of eosinophilia is crucial, as successful treatment relies on the underlying etiology of the disease. Platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha-related disorders were first specified in 2008 as a distinct group of clonal eosinophilic disorders with exceptional responsiveness to imatinib. We herein present the case of a man with myeloid neoplasm and eosinophilia in whom a definitive diagnosis could not be adequately made based on histopathological features who was ultimately diagnosed only after extensive molecular analyses and successfully treated with imatinib.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Thrombotic events (TE) appear to be more common in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) than in other acute leukemias, with reported prevalence ranging from 2 to 10-15%.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data on TE appearance in 63 APL patients.

Results: TE occured in 13 (20.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Owing to the heterogeneity in the clinical phenotype of haemophilia A and B, it is now recognized that disease severity (based on factor VIII/IX activity) may no longer be the most appropriate guide for treatment and that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach is unlikely to achieve optimal therapy. Based on the present literature and consensus views of a group of experts in the field, this article highlights key gaps in the understanding of the diverse relationships between bleeding phenotype and factors such as joint health, genetic susceptibility, laboratory parameters, quality of life and management of pain. Early prophylaxis is a potential 'gold standard' therapy and issues surrounding inhibitor development, variations in its clinical use and long-term outcomes are discussed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The current widely accepted stratification defined by age and previous thrombosis in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) probably deserves deeper analysis. The aim of our study was to identify additional factors at the time of diagnosis, which have an impact on the thrombosis prediction. We conducted a study of 244 consecutive ET patients with median follow-up of 83 months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The goal of this study was to compare the validity of two laboratory assays, rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), in monitoring and evaluating different prophylactic treatment regimens in patients with severe haemophilia.

Methods: Twenty adult patients with severe haemophilia were divided into three groups according to treatment regimen with concentrate of factor (F) VIII/IX: full-dose prophylaxis (5 patients), intermediate-dose prophylaxis (5 patients), and on demand treatment (10 patients).

Results: The ROTEM for the group treated with full-dose prophylaxis was significantly lower than ROTEM for the group treated with intermediate-dose prophylaxis (p = 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Unlabelled: Introduction Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare inherited bleeding disorder characterized by giant platelets thrombocytopenia, prolonged bleeding time, frequent hemorrhages with considerable morbidity. Data on the outcome of pregnancy and gynecological intervention in BSS are rare and there are no general therapeutic recommendations.

Cases Outline: We report two cases of BSS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We report a treatment-naïve patient with Gaucher disease (GD) who experienced repeated bleeding after three neurosurgeries for a brain tumour, identified as an oligoastrocytoma. The patient had normal values on basic haemostatic tests: prothrombin time, 75-105%; activated partial thromboplastin time, 30.3-34 s; and mild thrombocytopaenia, 96-115 × 10(9 )cells/l.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Some patients with paraproteinemia have platelet aggregation disorders and the aim of this study was to examine disturbance of platelet aggregation in healthy blood donors by isolated paraprotein in vitro.

Methods: Using Rivanol, paraprotein was separated from the serum of ten patients with paraproteinemia, who had decreased platelet aggregation with several inducers. Platelet aggregation in ten healthy donors was measured with and without addition of the isolated induced paraprotein.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Although various coagulation abnormalities occur in patients with Gaucher disease (GD), von Willebrand factor (vWF) deficiency has rarely been reported. A retrospective review of six treatment naïve cases with GD and concomitant vWF deficiency over a 12-year-period in a single center is presented. All patients had a personal history of prior hemorrhages.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Patients with haemophilia A have seriously impaired thrombin generation due to an inherited deficiency of factor (F)VIII, making them form unstable fibrin clots that are unable to maintain haemostasis. Data on fibrin structure in haemophilia patients remain limited. Fibrin permeability, assessed by a flow measurement technique, was investigated in plasma from 20 patients with severe haemophilia A treated on demand, before and 30 minutes after FVIII injection.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

High-hemorrhagic early death (ED) rate is a major impediment in the managing of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). In our group of 56 newly diagnosed APL patients, ED occurred in 12 subjects, due to endocranial bleeding (8/12), differentiation syndrome (2/12), or infection (2/12). Predictors of hemorrhagic ED were as follows: white blood cells count ≥ 20 × 10(9)/L (P = 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Isolated myeloid sarcoma is an extramedullary tumor of immature myeloid cells defined by the absence of leukemia history, myelodisplastic syndrome, or myeloproliferative neoplasma with a negative bone marrow biopsy. Myeloid sarcoma is a very rare condition, and few cases have been reported. We reviewed data of 12 patients with isolated myeloid sarcoma managed at a single center to determine the possible prognostic factors affecting patient survival, such as age, sex, type, localization, and treatment options.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IA) is the most frequent invasive fungal infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Massive hemoptysis (MH) with blood loss more than 300-600 ml in 24 hours is a rare (5-10% of IA patients) but frequently fatal complication. Standard treatment of MH, such as oxygenation, a semi-sitting position with the bleeding site down, bronchoscopical suctioning, antifungal therapy, transfusion support and surgical resection might be either ineffective or not feasible in some cases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Historically in hemophilia, outcome measures have not been collected systematically. Hence, there are insufficient clearly defined, evidence-based measures that can be applied consistently across hemophilia trials. This review focuses on some key challenges to evaluating patient outcomes and performing trials identified by experts at the Fourth and Fifth Zurich Haemophilia Forums.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Haemophilia A patients with similar levels of factor VIII (FVIII) may have different bleeding phenotypes and responses to treatment with FVIII concentrate. Therefore, a test which determines overall haemostasis may be appropriate for treatment monitoring in some patients. We studied two global haemostatic methods:endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and overall haemostatic potential(OHP) before and after injection of FVIII concentrate in patients with haemophilia A treated prophylactically and on-demand.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Prognostic parameters for treatment outcome in 42 consecutive patients with t-AML diagnosed and treated in a single centre between 2000-2010 (mean age: 56.07 years, range: 23-84; 30 females) were evaluated retrospectively/prospectively. Antecedent malignancy occurred in 37 patients (88.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

For hemophilia patients with inhibitors, immune tolerance induction (ITI) may help to restore clinical response to factor (F) VIII or FIX concentrates. Several ITI regimens and protocols exist; however, despite 30 yr of progressive investigation, the ITI evidence base relies mainly on observational data. Expert opinion, experience, and interpretation of the available evidence are therefore valuable to support clinical decision-making.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are clonal stem cell diseases that can result in cytopenias, dysplasia in one or more cell lineages, infective hematopoiesis, and increase the risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). MDSs are characterized by several recurrent cytogenetic defects, which can affect diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Some of that chromosomal alterations are associated with very poor prognosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF