Objectives: Impaired binding of Von Willebrand factor (VWF) to platelets and to collagen due to acquired Von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is associated with support from a ventricular assist device (VAD) and can contribute to bleeding tendencies in patients with VADs. The onset of AVWS has been shown to occur immediately after VAD implantation. Our aim was to determine long-term data on AVWS in VAD patients.
Methods: We analysed 278 data sets of 74 patients on HeartMate II (HMII) support for 3-80 months after implantation (11.2 ± 12.1, median 6.3 months.). Ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo), collagen binding capacity (VWF:CB), VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) and the ratios of VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag and VWF:CB/VWF:Ag were determined. Further, the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) multimers of VWF was investigated.
Results: Abnormally low values of VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag and VWF:CB/VWF:Ag were found in 69% and 97% of blood samples, respectively. Only ten of 181 multimer analyses showed a normal pattern, and HMW multimers were present in both specimens in only one of the 74 patients. No significant changes in these parameters were observed over time. The VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratio correlated with the multimer patterns, whereas the VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio seemed to be less sensitive for AVWS.
Conclusions: Our data indicate that AVWS is a typical phenomenon in patients with VAD support and that there are no time-dependent changes in these parameters apparent in most patients on long-term support with HMII.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezw348 | DOI Listing |
Virchows Arch
December 2021
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy of the skin. The cell of origin of MCC is thus far unknown and proposed cells of origin include Merkel cells, pro-/pre- or pre-B cells, epithelial stem cells, and dermal stem cells. In this study, we aimed to shed further light on the possibility that a subset of MCC tumors arise from epithelial stem cells of the skin by examining the expression of hair follicle and epidermal stem cell markers in MCC and normal human skin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Med Genet A
June 2021
The Folkhaelsan Department of Medical Genetics, The Folkhaelsan Institute of Genetics and the Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
J Transl Med
October 2020
Institute of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol
February 2019
Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Transplantation
January 2016
1 Transplantation Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. 2 Department of surgery, Oulu University Central Hospital, Oulu, Finland. 3 Transplantation and Liver Surgery Unit, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. 4 Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!