Thromb Haemost 2000; 84(04): 638-642
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614080
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

The Effect of DDAVP Infusion on Thrombin Generation in Platelet-rich Plasma of von Willebrand Type 1 and in Mild Haemophilia A Patients

Irene M. L. W. Keularts
1   From the Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) and Medical Faculty University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, Academic Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
K. Hamulyak
1   From the Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) and Medical Faculty University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, Academic Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
H.C. Hemker
1   From the Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) and Medical Faculty University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, Academic Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
Suzette Béguin
1   From the Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) and Medical Faculty University of Maastricht, The Netherlands, Academic Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations

The authors thank the technical staff of Haematology, Haemostasis unit (academic hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands) for determination of vWF:RCoF, vWF:Ag and FVIII:c in plasmas. This study was supported by a Program Grant 900-26-192 from the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research (N.W.O.).
Further Information

Publication History

Received 22 February 2000

Accepted after resubmission 17 May 2000

Publication Date:
11 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

In von Willebrand disease (vWD) type 1 and mild haemophilia A patients we studied the effect of an infusion of DDAVP (0.3 µg/kg body weight) on thrombin generation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-poor plasma (PPP). Baseline thrombin generation in PRP was diminished both in the haemophilia A and vWD patients. It was normal in vWD plasma when sufficient procoagulant phospholipids were present, either via adding phospholipid vesicles to PPP or via scrambling of the platelet membrane with ionomycin in PRP. In haemophilia A plasma, thrombin generation did not normalize by providing procoagulant phospholipids. Treatment with DDAVP temporarily restored thrombin generation in PRP to normal in both diseases.

To investigate the individual roles of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and factor VIII, we also studied the effect of factor VIII infusion on thrombin generation in a severe haemophilia patient. It appears that at a fixed normal vWF concentration, <25% factor VIII is sufficient for normal thrombin generation in PRP. At a sufficient factor VIII concentration, however, thrombin generation is still lower than normal in vWD patients; ∼40% of vWF is required for half-normal thrombin generation in PRP.

It thus appears that vWF is also a clotting factor, in the sense that it is required for normal thrombin generation. This underlines the importance of the interaction between coagulation and the platelets in normal haemostasis. Thrombin generation in PRP appears to be a suitable test to reflect the combined function.