Characterization, Classification, and Treatment of von Willebrand Diseases: A Critical Appraisal of the Literature and Personal Experiences (original) (raw)

Clinical and laboratory phenotype variability in type 2M von Willebrand disease

Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 2017

Essentials • The pathophysiology of type 2M von Willebrand disease (VWD) is poorly understood. • Sequence variations in type 2M VWD subjects were characterized. • A high degree of clinical and laboratory variability exists within type 2M VWD variants. • Some type 2M variants may share features of type 2A VWD. Summary. Background: von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric coagulation factor that tethers platelets to injured subendothelium. Type 2M von Willebrand disease (VWD) is characterized by a qualitative defect in VWF with preserved multimer distribution. Objectives: Through the Zimmerman Program for the Molecular and Clinical Biology for VWD, five VWF sequence variations were studied in subjects diagnosed with type 2M VWD. Methods: Bleeding phenotype was assessed using the ISTH bleeding assessment tool. Full-length VWF gene sequencing was performed for each subject. Each variant was placed into a recombinant VWF vector using site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in HEK293T cells as homozygous or heterozygous VWF. Variant expression, collagen binding and platelet GPIba binding were studied through ELISA assays. Multimer analysis was performed by gel electrophoresis. Results: Bleeding scores were elevated for all subjects except for the p.P1162L and p.R1374C variants. Although all had reduced VWF ristocetin cofactor activity/VWF antigen ratios on plasma testing, recombinant VWF did not show a classic type 2M phenotype for any of the five variants. Homozygous expression of variants p.D1283Y, p.R1349C, p.R1374C and p.I1453N was consistent with type 2A VWD, although all had normal expression as heterozygous recombinant VWF. Variant p.P1162L had normal VWF expression and function, consistent with the lack of bleeding symptoms. Conclusions: Although originally classified as type 2M VWD, these homozygous recombinant VWF variants do not fulfill complete 2M VWD diagnostic criteria. A better classification schema and improved testing for putative type 2M variants is needed in order to effectively diagnose and treat affected patients.

Type 2A and 2M von Willebrand Disease: Differences in Phenotypic Parameters According to the Affected Domain by Disease-Causing Variants and Assessment of Pathophysiological Mechanisms

Seminars in Thrombosos and Hemostasis, 2021

Type 2A and 2M von Willebrand disease (VWD) broadly show similar phenotypic parameters, but involve different pathophysiological mechanisms. This report presents the clinical and laboratory profiles of type 2A and type 2M patients genotypically diagnosed at one large center. Higher bleeding score values and a higher incidence of major bleeding episodes were observed in type 2A compared with type 2M, potentially reflective of the absence of large and intermediate von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimers in 2A. In type 2A, most of disease-causing variants (DCVs) appeared to be responsible for increased VWF clearance and DCV clustered in the VWF-A1 domain resulted in more severe clinical profiles. In type 2M, DCV in the VWF-A1 domain showed different laboratory patterns, related to either reduced synthesis or shortened VWF survival, and DCV in the VWF-A2 domain showed patterns related mainly to shortened survival. VWF-type 1 collagen binding/Ag (C1B/Ag) showed different patterns according to DCV location: in type 2A VWD, C1B/Ag was much lower when DCVs were located in the VWF-A2 domain. In type 2M with DCV in the VWF-A1domain, C1B/Ag was normal, but with DCV in the VWF-A2 domain, C1B/Ag was low. The higher frequency of major bleeding in VWD 2M patients with DCV in the VWF-A2 domain than that with DCV in the VWF-A1 domain could be a summative effect of abnormal C1B/Ag, on top of the reduced VWF-GPIb binding. In silico modeling suggests that DCV impairing the VWF-A2 domain somehow modulates collagen binding to the VWF-A3 domain. Concomitant normal FVIII:C/Ag and VWFpp/Ag, mainly in type 2M VWD, suggest that other nonidentified pathophysiological mechanisms, neither related to synthesis/retention nor survival of VWF, would be responsible for the presenting phenotype.

Type 2M von Willebrand disease variant characterized by abnormal von Willebrand factor multimerization

Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 2001

We describe a von Willebrand disease (VWD) variant characterized by low plasma and platelet von Willebrand factor (VWF), impaired ristocetin-induced VWF binding to platelet glycoprotein Ib (GPIb), and abnormal VWF multimer pattern not associated with the absence of large forms. A C-to-T transition at nucleotide 4120 in exon 28 of the VWF gene was found; this mutation introduces a cysteine at the codon for Arg 611 of mature VWF. In addition to the decreased factor VIII (FVIII) and VWF levels, ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) was almost absent, and VWF ristocetin cofactor activity (VWF:RCo) was significantly more decreased than VWF antigen. The patients (mother and son) also showed a defect in VWF collagen-binding activity. Plasma VWF multimers were decreased, with no limit in the size of large forms, and the normal discontinuous multimer organization was replaced by a diffuse smear, especially detectable in the large forms. This picture was emphasized by 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) infusion, so that the abnormal VWF multimers appeared to have a molecular weight higher than those present in, or released by, human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Superiority of the Rapid Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) VWF:GPIbR and VWF:GPIbM Assays in Type 2A, 2B and 2M Von Willebrand Disease

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, 2019

A complete set of rapid activity and classical von Willebrand factor (VWF) assays for Willebrand disease (VWD) diagnosis was used in the present study to characterize VWD type 1, 2A, 2B and 2M patients due to mutations in the A1, A2 and A3 domains. The VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag, VWF:GPIbM/VWF:Ag and VWF:GPIbR/VWF:Ag ratios at cuttt off value of 0.7 separated VWD type 1 and LowVWF from VWD type 2. The results from the Brno cohort of VWD 2A patients with the G1579R mutation in the A2 domain in sixteen affected member from five families and in one case with the G1609R in the A2 domain revealed that the VWF:GPIbM/VWF:Ag and VWF:GPIbR/VWF: Ag ratios are marked decreased (range 0.03-0.27) to a similar degree as compared to VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag and VWF:CB/VWF:Ag ratios (range 0.03-0.27) due to the proteolytic loss of large and intermediate VWF multimers. The results in VWD 2B patients due to gain of ristocetin induced platelet agglutination (RIPA) function mutations R1306W, R1308C and R1341 in the A1 domain demonstrated that the ratios for VWF:GPIbM/VWF:Ag and VWF:GPIbR/VWF:Ag as compared to VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio were markedly decreased in VWD 2B, whereas the VWF:GPIbM/VWF:Ag ratio was somewhat higher (range 0.32 to 0.36) in VWD 2M. VWD 2M patients due to loss of RIPA function mutation R1359K in the A1 domain are featured by decreased VWF ratios for WVF:RCo/Ag and VWF:GPIbR/Ag, but less decreased for the VWF:GPIbM/Ag ratio and normal VWF ratio for VWF:CB/Ag ratio the need to retain the VWF:CB assay to make a correct diagnosis of VWD 2M for its differentiation from VWD type 1. The G1415D mutation in the A1 domain is featured by decreased RIPA and decreased VWF:RCo/VWF:Ag ratio (VWD 2M) but normal values for VWF:CB/VWF:Ag, VWF:GPIbM/VWF:Ag and VWFGPIbR/VWF:Ag ratios consistent with VWD 2M. Double heterozygous P1266L/V1278I mutation in two patients and heterozygous E1292D/WT mutation in three patients in the A1 domain were diagnosed as VWD 2M or 1M associated with a secretion defect (SD). The Platelet Function Analyzer Closure Times (PFA-CT) are strongly prolonged in VWD 2A, 2B and 2M. and moderately prolonged between the upper limit of normal to 300 seconds in heterozygous mutated VWD type 1 patients.

Laboratory Diagnosis and Molecular Classification of von Willebrand Disease

Acta Haematologica, 2009

CB, with only poor response for VWF:RCo in 2M and 2U, poor in 2A group I, 2B, 2C and 2D, and very poor or non-responsive in severe recessive VWD type 1 and 3. Homozygosity or double heterozygosity for nonsense (null) mutations in the VWF gene result in recessive VWD type 3. The combination of a nonsense and missense mutation or of two missense mutations (homozygous or double heterozygous) may cause recessive severe VWD type 1. Recessive VWD type 2A subtype IIC (2C) is caused by homozygous or double heterozygous gene defects in the D1-D2 domain. Homozygosity or double heterozygosity for a FVIII binding defect of the VWF is the cause of recessive VWD type 2N (Normandy) characterized by low FVIII:C, mild or moderate VWF deficiency and normal VWF multimers. Dominant VWD type 1/2E is a mixed quantitative and qualitative multimerization defect caused by a heterozygous cysteine mutation in the D3 domain resulting in abnormal multimerization with a secretion and clearance defect of VWF not due to increased proteolysis. Dominant VWD type 1 Vicenza is a qualitative defect with normal secretion but rapid clearance with equally low levels of FVIII:C, VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo, VWF:CB and the presence of unusually large VWF multimers in plasma due to a specific mutation (R1205H) in the D3 domain. Dominant VWD type 2M and 2U are caused by loss-of-function mutations in the A1 domain Abstract A complete set of laboratory investigations, including bleeding time, PFA-100 closure times, factor VIII (FVIII) coagulant activity (FVIII:C), von Willebrand factor (VWF) ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo), collagen binding (VWF:CB), antigen (VWF: Ag) and propeptide (VWFpp), ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA), multimeric analysis of VWF and the response of FVIII:C and VWF parameters to desmopressin (DDAVP), is necessary to fully diagnose all variants of von Willebrand disease (VWD) and to discriminate between type 1 and type 2 and between severe VWD type 1 and type 3. The response to DDAVP of VWF parameters is normal in pseudo VWD (mild VWF deficiency due to blood group O), in mild VWD type 1 and in carriers of recessive severe VWD type 1 and 3. The response to DDAVP is rather good but restricted followed by increased clearance in dominant type 1/2E, good but transient in mild type 2A group II, good for VWF: Published onlineActa Haematol 2009;121:71-84 72