Markers of refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a challenging disease that can be defined by refractoriness to second-line treatments. In this review, we list and comment available evidence about clinical and biological factors associated with refractoriness to splenectomy, thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs), rituximab and fostamatinib, as well as those associated with multirefractory ITP (active disease with failure of rituximab, TPO-RAs and splenectomy).

Complement activation negatively affects the platelet response to thrombopoietin receptor agonists in patients with immune thrombocytopenia: a prospective cohort study.

Increased platelet destruction is central in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia. However, impaired platelet production is also relevant and its significance underlies the rationale for treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs). Previous studies have associated enhanced complement activation with increased disease severity.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are not associated with hypercoagulability in apparently healthy people.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 adenoviral vector DNA vaccines have been linked to the rare but serious thrombotic postvaccine complication vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. This has raised concerns regarding the possibility of increased thrombotic risk after any SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Objectives: To investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 vaccines cause coagulation activation leading to a hypercoagulable state.

The effect of rivaroxaban on the diagnostic value of D-dimer in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis.

Introduction: Empiric anticoagulation therapy is often used in patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to avoid complications if the workup is delayed. Studies have shown the safety of administering direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and low molecular weight heparin in patients with suspected DVT. However, the impact of empiric DOACs on D-dimer levels in patients with suspected DVT is not well established.

Thromboembolic complications during and after hospitalization for COVID-19: Incidence, risk factors and thromboprophylaxis.

Introduction: The incidence of thromboembolism during COVID-19 and the use of thromboprophylaxis vary greatly between studies. Only a few studies have investigated the rate of thromboembolism post-discharge. This study determined the 90-day incidence of venous and arterial thromboembolic complications, risk factors for venous thromboembolic events and characterized the use of thromboprophylaxis during and after hospitalization.

β-Amyloid in Cerebrospinal Fluid: How to Keep It Floating (Not Sticking) by Standardization of Preanalytic Processes and Collection Tubes.

Background: Phosphorylated tau (pTau), total tau (tTau), and β-amyloid (Aβ) are established cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers used to help diagnose Alzheimer disease. Preanalytic workups of CSF samples lack harmonization, making interlaboratory comparison of these biomarkers challenging. The Aβ adsorbs to sample tubes, yielding underestimated concentrations, and may result in false Alzheimer disease diagnosis.

Cytokine and Gene Expression Profiling in Patients with HFE-Associated Hereditary Hemochromatosis according to Genetic Profile.

Background: Hemochromatosis gene (HFE)-associated hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is characterized by downregulation of hepcidin synthesis, leading to increased intestinal iron absorption.

Objectives: The objectives were to characterize and elucidate a possible association between gene expression profile, hepcidin levels, disease severity, and markers of inflammation in HFE-associated HH patients.

Methods: Thirty-nine HFE-associated HH patients were recruited and assigned to 2 groups according to genetic profile: C282Y homozygotes in 1 group and patients with H63D, as homozygote or in combination with C282Y, in the other group.

Venous thromboembolism and coronavirus disease 2019 in an ambulatory care setting - A report of 4 cases.

• We report four non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients who developed VTE in their course of illness. • None of our patients had major risk factors for developing VTE. • A secondary respiratory worsening of COVID-19 should prompt investigation for the occurrence of VTE.

Markers of endothelial cell activation and neutrophil extracellular traps are elevated in immune thrombocytopenia but are not enhanced by thrombopoietin receptor agonists.

Introduction: Patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are at increased risk of thrombosis, which seems to be further enhanced by treatment with thrombopoietin-receptor-agonists (TPO-RAs). The underlying mechanisms of thrombosis in ITP are not fully understood. Endothelial cell activation and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play important roles in thrombosis, however, their roles in ITP itself, or in TPO-RA-treatment, have not yet been fully explored.

Platelet activation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in immune thrombocytopenia: is there an association?

No biological predictors for the increased risk of thrombosis in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have been identified. The aim of the study was to investigate platelet and neutrophil activation as well neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in 63 ITP patients and 30 healthy volunteers. Platelet and neutrophil activation was assessed during steady state using flow cytometry analysis, and NETs were evaluated by quantitation of cell free DNA (cfDNA), and citrullinated histone-3-DNA (CitH3-DNA).

Increased microvesicle-associated thrombin generation in patients with immune thrombocytopenia after initiation of thrombopoietin receptor agonists.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients have thrombocytopenia and increased bleeding risk, but, conversely, they also have increased thrombotic risk which appears to be exacerbated by thrombopoietin-receptor agonist (TPO-RA)-treatment. Microvesicles (MVs) released from activated/apoptotic cells are prothrombotic due to exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) and tissue factor (TF). MVs are increased in ITP patients, but their prothrombotic effect, before and during treatment with TPO-RAs, is unclear.

Circulating microRNAs in patients with immune thrombocytopenia before and after treatment with thrombopoietin-receptor agonists.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression. Dysregulated expression of several miRNAs has been found in primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) suggesting that miRNAs are likely involved in the pathogenesis of ITP. We aimed to explore the differential expression of miRNAs in patients with ITP before and after starting treatment with thrombopoietin-receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) to clarify their roles in the pathophysiology of ITP, and as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers of this disorder.

Effect of thrombopoietin receptor agonists on markers of coagulation and P-selectin in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Thrombopoietin-receptor-agonists (TPO-RA) are effective treatments of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Previous long-term TPO-RA clinical trials have shown that thrombotic events occurred in 6% of TPO-RA-treated ITP patients. To explore the increased risk of thrombosis, the effects of TPO-RA on markers of coagulation and P-selectin were studied.

Predictors of Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients With Lupus: A Cohort Study.

Background: Because systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects women of reproductive age, pregnancy is a major concern.

Objective: To identify predictors of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) in patients with inactive or stable active SLE.

Design: Prospective cohort.

Evaluation of OneTouch Verio(®), a new blood glucose self-monitoring system for patients with diabetes.

Introduction: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is important in diabetes management. Reliable and user-friendly instruments are essential. OneTouch Verio(®) is a new blood glucose concentration-measuring system designed to be used by patients with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in an unselected, mixed connective tissue disease cohort: results of a nationwide, Norwegian cross-sectional multicentre study and review of current literature.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the overall prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in an unselected MCTD cohort and review the current knowledge with a systematic database search.

Methods: A nationwide multicentre cohort of 147 adult MCTD patients were initially screened for PH by echocardiography, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), pulmonary function tests and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and then followed up for a mean of 5.6 years.

Prevalence and severity of interstitial lung disease in mixed connective tissue disease: a nationwide, cross-sectional study.

Background: Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an immune-mediated, systemic disorder of unknown cause.

Objective: To assess the prevalence, pattern and severity of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in a cross-sectional study of the nationwide, Norwegian MCTD cohort.

Methods: 126 patients with MCTD were systematically examined for ILD by high-resolution CT (HRCT), pulmonary function tests (PFT), 6 min walk test (6MWT) and by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification of dyspnoea.