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Coated platelets and severe haemophilia A bleeding phenotype: Is there a connection?
Author(s) -
Lastrapes K. K.,
Mohammed B. M.,
Mazepa M. A.,
Martin E. J.,
Barrett J. C.,
Massey G. V.,
Kuhn J. G.,
Nolte M. E.,
Hoffman M.,
Monroe D. M.,
Brophy D. F.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
haemophilia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.213
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1365-2516
pISSN - 1351-8216
DOI - 10.1111/hae.12844
Subject(s) - medicine , platelet , haemophilia , haemophilia a , phenotype , gastroenterology , platelet disorder , hematology , bleeding time , bleed , immunology , surgery , platelet aggregation , biology , gene , biochemistry
Introduction Coated platelets are a subpopulation of platelets that possess highly prothrombotic properties. Previous observational data suggest that bleeding phenotype in severe haemophilia A is associated with coated platelet levels. Haemophilia A patients with higher coated platelet levels may have a mild bleeding phenotype; those with lower levels may have a more severe bleeding phenotype. Aim The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that coated platelet levels are correlated with clinical bleeding phenotype. Methods This cross‐sectional, observational study enrolled 20 severe haemophilia A patients, including 15 with severe and five with a mild bleeding phenotype, and a control group of 12 healthy volunteers. The haemophilia bleeding phenotype was determined by the patient's medical history and haemophilia treatment centre records. Blood was obtained from each patient by venipuncture and platelets were analysed by flow cytometry. Results Patients categorized as having a severe bleeding phenotype experienced a median eight bleeds per year compared to one bleed annually in the mild bleeding phenotype group. Both groups had similar total platelet counts and fibrinogen levels. There was no difference in coated platelet percentage between severe and mild bleeding phenotype (17 and 16% respectively), however, both groups had significantly lower % coated platelets compared to controls (44%, P < 0.0001). Conclusion Coated platelet levels were not associated with bleeding phenotype in this study; however, these data may suggest coated platelet levels are lower in haemophilia patients relative to healthy volunteers.