Thromb Haemost 1997; 77(02): 383-386
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1655972
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Impaired Prothrombin Consumption in Bernard-Soulier Syndrome Is Corrected In Vitro by Human Factor VIII

S Bellucci
1   Laboratory of Hematology and Institut des Vaisseaux et du Sang, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris
,
J P Girma
2   Inserm U.143. Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
,
M Lozano
3   Haemotherapy and Haemostasis Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
,
D Meyer
2   Inserm U.143. Hôpital de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
,
J P Caen
1   Laboratory of Hematology and Institut des Vaisseaux et du Sang, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 29 May 1996

Accepted after revision 15 October 1996

Publication Date:
10 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

The Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is characterized by thrombocytopenia with giant platelets, a prolonged bleeding time with defective platelet adhesion to the subendothelium related to a defect in platelet membrane glycoprotein lb (GPIb) and a decreased prothrombin consumption. The mechanism of the latter abnormality remains unknown. In this study, we showed that this defect was corrected by the addition of purified human factor VIII (FVIII) to blood from four patients with BSS. The correction of prothrombin consumption was almost complete at concentrations between 1.5 and 3 IU/ml of FVIII procoagulant activity (VIII.'C) and partially abolished by a monoclonal antibody which neutralizes VIII:C. This correction was specific for FVIII and was not observed after addition of purified human FIX. It was obtained, in the same magnitude range, with FVIII complexed to von Willebrand factor (vWF) but not with free vWF. These data provide a new insight into the knowledge of the physiological interaction between the platelet membrane and the vWF-FVIII complex facilitating plasma coagulation activation and may lead to helpful therapeutic advances.