Summary
Recently we reported data suggesting that platelets could compensate for the bleeding
phenotype in severe haemophilia A (HA). The aim of this study was to confirm these
results in a larger population with a detailed characterisation of clinical phenotype.
Patients with diagnostic severe HA (FVIII:C <1%) were scored for clinical phenotype
by integrating data on age at first joint bleed, joint damage, bleeding frequency
and FVIII consumption. Phenotype was defined as onset of joint bleeding-score + arthropathy-score
+ joint bleeding-score + (2* treatment intensity-score). After a washout period of
three days, blood was collected for measurement of basal level of platelet activation,
platelet reactivity, endothelial cell activation and presence of procoagulant phospholipids
in plasma. Thirty-three patients with severe HA were included, 13 patients with a
mild, 12 patients with an average and eight patients with a severe clinical phenotype.
No relevant differences in basal level of platelet activation, platelet reactivity,
endothelial cell activation and procoagulant phospholipids between all three groups
were observed. The mean annual FVIII consumption per kg did not correlate with the
platelet P-selectin expression and glycoprotein (GP)IIbIIIa activation on platelets.
In conclusion, variability in clinical phenotype in patients with diagnostic severe
HA is not related to platelet activation or reactivity, measured as platelet degranulation
and platelet GPIIbIIIa opening.
Keywords
Haemophilia A - clinical phenotype - platelet reactivity - P-selectin - GPIIbIIIa