A b s t r a c tBackground: The platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) is a system analyzing platelet function determined for detection of the functional inherited and acquired platelet disorders, screening of von Willebrand disease (vWD) and recently also considered as useful for monitoring of antiplatelet treatment. The PFA-100 test uses a high shear flow system to simulate in vitro the conditions to which platelets are subjected at the site of a damaged blood vessel wall.Aim of study: We decided to establish the reference intervals of PFA closure time (CT) in the Slovak population of healthy blood donors.Patients and methods: Fifty age and gender matched healthy blood donors were enrolled in the study. We investigated the relationships between PFA-100 CT, gender and ABO blood groups.Results: The reference intervals for CT measured on CEPI (collagen/epinephrine) and CADP (collagen/adenosine diphosphate) cartridge in 3.2% citrated blood were 86 -199 sec. and 42 -119 sec., respectively. Blood group O was associated with significantly longer CEPI CT (p<0.05) compared to non -O groups. The prolongation of CADP CT in blood donors with blood group O was without significance. The influence of gender as another variable analyzed with CT has not been evaluated as statistically significant.Conclusion: PFA-100 CT should be interpreted carefully with consideration of both the patient's clinical presentation and laboratory variables such as ABO blood group.

The most frequent cause of malabsorption syndrome (MAS) in developed countries is the celiac disease (CD). There are two possible approaches for exact diagnostic of this disorder: in case of full blown clinical symptoms the golden standard is duodenal biopsy. When it shows classical mucosa lesions (Marsh type 3 mucosa atrophy of various grades), the diagnosis of CD is confirmed. However, if intraepithelial lymphocyte infiltration (IEL) and/or hyperplastic crypts can be seen in the absence of mucosa atrophy (Marsh type 1 and/or 2 lesions) only, it is reasonable to examine the serologic markers. The most frequent enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests are: detection of tissue transglutaminase 2 antibody (anti-tTGase 2, especially of IgA class) and the deamidated gliadin peptide antibody (anti-DGP) assay. A simpler serological test, useful for screening, is the detection of antiendomysium antibody (AEmA) by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) in monkey intestine or esophagus sections. This is reasonable to combine with the microdot test for anti-gliadin antibody (AGA), especially by using the endomysium/gliadin mosaic kit (Euroimmun). Taken together, at least three serological markers (anti-tTGase 2, anti-DGP and AGA) are highly specific for CD; their detection first (i.e. prior to duodenal biopsy) is recommended in children as well as in adults showing atypical, silent and or latent forms of CD. In both of them, serology represents a reliable non-invasive approach, which allows precise diagnosis with a probability of nearly 90 %. Another advantage of the non-invasive serological technic is that it can be easily repeated when following the outcome of gluten-free diet (GFD). Nevertheless, duodenal biopsy should be performed in any case, if the serology does not correlate with clinical symptoms. In such patients as well as in those revealing positive serology but negative and/or non-specific histology, immunogenetic typing should be performed in order to assess the expression of DQ2 [DQA*0501-DQB*0201] or DQ8 [DQA*0301-DQB1*0302] haplotypes of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region critical for the development of CD.

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Physiological prothrombotic changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period, along with other preexisting maternal risk factors, increase the risk of both venous thromboembolism (VTE) and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy complications that develop due to placental insufficiency as a result of inappropriate activation of coagulation are present in more than 5% of pregnancies and can contribute to significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, anticoagulant prophylaxis in women with congenital and acquired thrombophilic conditions should be actively considered. According to the Guidelines of American College of Chest Physicians, the use of low-molecular-weight heparin is suggested for prophylaxis of VTE and pregnancy complications in high-risk pregnant women. However, personalized refinements of such thromboprophylaxis remains unspecified, despite the necessity of better targeted recommendations for life-threatening conditions. We, therefore, review the possibilities of longitudinal monitoring and comprehensive assessment of changes in hemostasis in the group of high-risk pregnant women, which can then be used for early prediction and individualization of the optimal anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis of pregnancy complications. Simultaneously, we present our single-center experience with such monitoring and our first series of results.