Management of rare inherited bleeding disorders: Proposals of the French Reference Centre on Haemophilia and Rare Coagulation Disorders

Severe haemorrhages leading to a diagnosis of rare bleeding disorder occur at a very young age: A study from the FranceCoag network

INTRODUCTION

In the context of severe unexplained haemorrhage (SH), it is usual to seek haematological evaluation and investigate for an inherited rare bleeding disorder (IRBD). In such circumstances, appropriate screen can discriminate between IRBD and suspected child abuse. Yet, little information is available about the frequency of SH in the population of patients with IRBD.

AIM

To collect epidemiologic data about SH and IRBD.

METHOD

The database of the FranceCoag network has collected information about IRBD since January 2004. Based on data gathered up to 16 March 2022, a retrospective search was conducted for of SH events having occurred before or at the time of IRBD diagnosis. Demographics and diagnosis circumstances were retrieved, as well as information about SH, defined as any life-threatening bleeding or intracranial haemorrhage.

RESULTS

Among the 13,433 patients of the database, 109 (0.8%) fulfilled inclusion criteria including a known date of IRBD diagnosis, haemophilia A or B (HA/HB) being the most frequent (82.5%). IRBD was discovered as a consequence of an SH event in 82.6% of the cases while CNS was involved in 55%. Severe and moderate HA/HB and other severe IRBD presented significantly more intracranial haemorrhage (p < .02) and a lower age at diagnosis (p = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

These data support that any unusual SH should raise a suspicion of IRBD. Particularly before 1-year of age, it is suggested to first confirm moderate or severe haemophilia and severe IRBD by standard coagulation tests (APTT, PT and fibrinogen), combined with a clotting FXIII assay as first-line investigation. Subsequent assays of coagulation factors should be performed in the case of abnormal values, in second-line investigation.

How to investigate mild to moderate bleeding disorders and bleeding disorder of unknown cause

A bleeding tendency is one of the most common complaints observed by hematologists. It is challenging to differentiate a clinically insignificant bleeding from a bleeding phenotype that requires hemostatic evaluation and medical intervention. A thorough review of personal and familial history, objective assessment of bleeding severity using a bleeding assessment tool, and a focused physical examination are critical to correctly identifying suspected patients with mild to moderate bleeding disorders (MBDs). A basic laboratory work-up should be performed in all patients referred for a bleeding tendency. If a hemostatic abnormality is found such as evidence of von Willebrand disease, a platelet function disorder, or a coagulation factor deficiency, more extensive testing should be performed to further characterize the bleeding disorder. Conversely, if all results are normal the patient is considered to have bleeding disorder of unknown cause (BDUC). For patients with BDUC, further evaluation may include non-routine testing to look for rare bleeding disorders not detected by routine hemostasis tests, such as thrombomodulin-associated coagulopathy, tissue factor pathway inhibitor-related bleeding disorder, hyperfibrinolytic-bleeding disorders or impaired tissue factor production. In this review, we summarize the stepwise diagnostic procedure in MBDs and provide some insights into the biological features of BDUC.

Management of pregnancy and delivery in congenital fibrinogen disorders: communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Factor XIII and Fibrinogen

Congenital fibrinogen disorders (CFDs) are a heterogeneous group of rare congenital quantitative and/or qualitative fibrinogen deficiencies. The spectrum of molecular anomalies is broad, leading to several subtypes of fibrinogen disorders (ie, afibrinogenemia, hypofibrinogenemia, dysfibrinogenemia, and hypodysfibrinogenemia). Pregnancy in women with CFDs is a high-risk clinical situation, with an increased tendency for miscarriages, bleeding, and thrombosis. Even though it is well established that management of such pregnancies requires a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists (hematologists and maternal/fetal medicine experts with expertise in the management of inherited bleeding disorders), specific guidelines are lacking. In this International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Scientific and Standardization Committee communication, we aim to propose an expert consensus opinion with literature evidence where available on the strategy for management of pregnancy, delivery, and puerperium in CFDs.

Rare bleeding disorders: Advances in management

Inherited factor coagulation deficiencies and vascular bleeding disorders, associated with bleeding of various severity, are often classified as rare bleeding disorders (RBDs). These include inherited fibrinogen disorders, inherited platelet function disorders (IPFD) and hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). In the last decades, there have been large increases in knowledge on the epidemiology, genetics, physiopathology, clinical features, and diagnosis of RBDs, but improvements in management have been more limited and remain challenging. The treatment mainstay of RBDs is based only on replacement of a few available coagulation factor concentrates or cryoprecipitates. There is growing interest in therapeutic agents that enhance coagulation or inhibiting anticoagulant pathways in RBDs. In severe IPFD, the optimal platelet transfusion strategy is not yet established. Moreover, data is scarce on the effectiveness and safety of desmopressin and/or antifibrinolytic drugs often used for milder IPFD treatment. The best fibrinogen replacement strategy (prophylaxis vs. on demand) in afibrinogenemia is still debated. Similarly, the optimal trough fibrinogen target level for treatment of acute bleeding, and the role of fibrinogen replacement during pregnancy in mild hypofibrinogenemia and dysfibrinogenemia, have not been properly evaluated. The therapeutic arsenal in HHT includes antifibrinolytics and a series of antiangiogenic agents whose potential efficacy has been tested in small studies or are under investigation for treatment of bleeding. However, there is need to address several issues, including the optimal dosing strategies, the potential emergent toxicity of longer-term use, and the impact of systemic antiangiogenic treatment on visceral arteriovenous malformations.

Rare bleeding disorders: Real-world data from a Spanish tertiary hospital

INTRODUCTION

Due to their low prevalence, rare bleeding disorders (RBDs) remain poorly characterized.

AIM

To gain insight of RBDs through our clinical practice.

METHODS

Retrospective study of the medical records of RBD patients followed up at the Central University Hospital of Asturias between January 2019 and December 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 149 patients were included. Factor (F) VII (44 %) and FXI (40 %) deficiencies were the most common diagnosed coagulopathies. Most of the patients were asymptomatic (60.4 %) and the most frequent type of bleeding were mucocutaneous and after surgery. All replacement treatments were administered on demand and no patient was on a prophylaxis regimen. Currently available products were safe; allergic reactions after administration of plasma were the most frequent complication. Genetic analysis, carried out on 55 patients (37 %), showed that the most frequent mutations in RBDs are of missense type (71.9 %). We identified 11 different novel genetic alterations in affected genes. The c.802C > T (p.Arg268Cys) variant, previously described, was identified in 71 % (15 of 21) of the patients with FXI deficiency genotyped and none were related (probable founder effect).

CONCLUSION

Our study on an unusual large single center cohort of RBD patients portrays location-dependent distinct genetic drives and clinical practice particularities.

Patient with congenital factor VII deficiency undergoing brain tumor neurosurgery successfully treated with recombinant factor VIIa and fresh frozen plasma: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Congenital factor VII deficiency is the most common among rare bleeding disorders, characterized by spontaneous or traumatic bleeding. The clinical manifestation is heterogeneous, ranging from asymptomatic phenotype to life-threatening hemorrhages. Intracranial hemorrhage is a common complication of brain tumor neurosurgery, which significantly challenges the perioperative management of patients with hemostatic defects.

PATIENT CONCERNS

This report presented a 55-year-old man with congenital factor VII deficiency, who had no history of hemorrhage or family history. He underwent a craniotomy for the treatment of papillary craniopharyngioma.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was diagnosed as papillary craniopharyngioma, factor VII deficiency, and atrial fibrillation.

INTERVENTIONS

To prevent bleeding, a total of 8 doses of recombinant activated factor VII and 1 dose of fresh frozen plasma were administered as the perioperative replacement therapy. This scheme was guided by a pharmacodynamic evaluation, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations.

OUTCOMES

No excessive surgical bleeding was observed during the 22-day treatment. The patient was found to have compound heterozygous mutations, Ala304Thr (c.910G > A) and IVS5-2A > G (c.572-2A > G), in the F7 gene.

LESSONS

This is the first reported case in which surgical hemorrhage secondary to brain tumor resection was successfully controlled in the presence of congenital factor VII deficiency. Perioperative coagulation state, hemostasis, and thrombosis events should be closely observed, and the interval and dosage of recombinant factor VIIa should be adjusted accordingly.

Surgery in rare bleeding disorders: the prospective MARACHI study

Background

Despite the wide use of bleeding scores and the reliability of clotting factor level measurement, bleeding risk stratification before surgery remains challenging in patients with rare inherited bleeding disorders.

Objectives

This multicenter observational prospective study assessed in patients with rare coagulation factor deficiency, the perioperative hemostatic management choices by hemostasis experts and the bleeding outcomes after surgery.

Methods

One hundred seventy-eight patients with low coagulation activity level (factor [F] II, FV, combined FV-FVIII, FVII, FX, or FXI <50%) underwent 207 surgical procedures. The bleeding outcome, Tosetto's bleeding score, and perioperative hemostatic protocols were collected.

Results

Among the 81 procedures performed in patients with severe factor deficiency (level ≤10%), 27 were done without factor replacement (including 6 in patients at high bleeding risk), without any bleeding event. Factor replacement therapy was used mainly for orthopedic procedures. In patients with mild deficiency, 100/126 surgical procedures were carried out without perioperative hemostatic treatment. In patients with FVII or FXI deficiency, factor replacement therapy was in function of the procedure, bleeding risk, and to a lesser extent previous bleeding history. Tranexamic acid was used in almost half of the procedures, particularly in case of surgery in tissues with high fibrinolytic activity (76.8%).

Conclusions

The current perioperative hemostatic management of patients with rare bleeding disorders appears to be adapted. Among the 207 procedures, only 6 were associated with excessive bleeding. Our findings suggest that rather than the bleeding score, factor level and surgery type are the most relevant criteria for perioperative factor replacement therapy.