The kaolin clotting time of platelet poor plasma was used as a sensitive test for detecting the lupus anticoagulant in mixtures of normal and patients' plasmas. Platelets were found to decrease the anticoagulant effect of a typical lupus inhibitor. Thus, high sensitivity in this test system was achieved by ensuring low platelet concentrations and omitting platelet lipid substitute. In 17 patients with disseminated lupus erythematosus (DLE), 12 had detectable inhibitor by this method, more than would be detected with routine coagulation tests. Mixing patterns were of four distinct types, representing three different modes of anticoagulant behaviour. The pattern (type 3) of plasma mixtures giving longer kaolin clotting times than the individual components could be reproduced in vitro by adding trace amounts of crude thrombin or platelet fragments to a more typical lupus anticoagulant-containing plasma; formation of such a mixing pattern by the plasma of a patient with DLE may therefore indicate activation of the coagulation pathway. Six patients with idopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) had no detectable inhibitor indicating that anti-platelet antibodies behave differently from the lupus anticoagulant.

The present study summarizes the results of 12 cardiac surgical procedures performed in a carrier of Haemophilia B and in six patients with Haemophilia A at a single centre from 1979 to 1998. The median age of the patients at the time of intervention was 56 years ranging from 18 years to 73 years. The six patients with Haemophilia A ranged in severity from moderately to mildly affected. Three patients were hepatitis C antibody positive. No patients were HIV antibody or hepatitis B surface antigen positive. The cardiac procedures included cardiac catheterization (n=4), coronary artery bypass surgery (n=2), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (n=1), cardiac valve replacement (AVR n=1 and AVR/MVR n=2), and closure of an atrial septal defect and subsequent drainage of a pericardial effusion (n=1). No patients had demonstrable inhibitors at the time of surgery. Haemostasis was achieved with AHF in 10/11 procedures and high purity factor IX (Immunine) in one procedure. The initial procedures involved intermittent bolus factor therapy while more recently, AHF was administered by continuous intravenous infusion. All patients demonstrated excellent intra- and post-operative haemostasis. These results, although from a small and varied group of patients, demonstrate that cardiac surgical procedures can be performed safely in patients with Haemophilia.

Summary Aim: To compare clinical outcomes in a randomised comparison of treatment with danaparoid sodium (a heparinoid), or dextran 70, for heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT) plus thrombosis. Methods: Forty-two patients with recent thrombosis and a clinical diagnosis of probable HIT who presented at ten Australian hospitals during a study period of six and one half years were randomly assigned to open-label treatment with intravenous danaparoid or dextran 70, each combined with oral warfarin. Thirty-four patients (83%) had a positive platelet aggregation or 14C-serotonin release test for HIT antibody. Twenty-five received danaparoid as a bolus injection of 2400 anti-Xa units followed by 400 units per hour for 2 h, 300 units per hour for 2 h, and then 200 units per hour for five days. Seventeen received 1000 mL dextran 70 on day one and then 500 mL on days 2-5. Patients were reviewed daily for clinical evidence of thrombus progression or resolution, fresh thrombosis or embolism, bleeding or other complications. The primary trial endpoint was the proportion of thromboembolic events with complete clinical resolution by the time of discharge from hospital. Results: With danaparoid, there was complete clinical recovery from 56% of thromboembolic events compared to 14% after dextran 70 (Odds Ratio 10.53, 95% Confidence Interval 1.6–71.4; p = 0.02). Clinical recovery with danaparoid was complete or partial in 86% of thromboembolic events compared with 53% after dextran 70 (Odds Ratio 4.55, 95% Confidence Interval 1.2–16.7; p = 0.03). Overall clinical effectiveness of danaparoid was rated as high or moderate in 88% of patients compared with 47% for dextran 70 (p = 0.01). One patient given danaparoid died of thrombosis compared with three patients given dextran 70. The platelet count returned to normal after a mean of 6.7 days with danaparoid and 7.3 days with dextran 70. There was no major bleeding with either treatment. Conclusion: danaparoid plus warfarin treatment for HIT with thrombosis is effective, safe, and superior to dextran 70 plus warfarin.

No abstract

No abstract