Thromb Haemost 2000; 84(06): 998-1004
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1614162
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Identification of Type 2 von Willebrand Disease in Previously Diagnosed Type 1 Patients: a Reappraisal Using Phenotypes, Genotypes and Molecular Modelling

Ioana C. Nitu-Whalley
3   From the Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Department of Haematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK
,
Anne Riddell
3   From the Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Department of Haematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK
,
Christine A. Lee
3   From the Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Department of Haematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK
,
K. John Pasi
3   From the Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Department of Haematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK
,
Dale Owens
3   From the Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Department of Haematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK
,
M. Said Enayat
1   Molecular Haemostasis Laboratory, The Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Trust, Birmingham, UK
,
Stephen J. Perkins
2   Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK
,
P. Vincent Jenkins
3   From the Katharine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Haemostasis Unit, Department of Haematology, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London, UK
› Author Affiliations

Dr I. Nitu-Whalley is supported by the EU grant number BMH4CT97-2256. This study was funded by the Katharine Dormandy Trust for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders, Reg. No. 262434. Professor K. J. Pasi is currently at the Division of Haematology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. We are grateful to Ms A. Griffioen for statistical analysis, Mr A. McCraw for performing some of the VWF:RiCo assays, Dr J. Hinshelwood for assistance with Fig. 2, and Dr S. Brown for helpful comments on the manuscript.
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 May 2000

Accepted after revision 17 July 2000

Publication Date:
13 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

In order to investigate the possibility that qualitative type 2 defects in von Willebrand factor (VWF) occurred in patients previously diagnosed with quantitative type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD), the phenotypes and genotypes were reanalysed in 30 patients who exhibited discrepant VWF activity/VWF:Ag ratios of less than 0.7. The capacity of VWF to bind to glycoprotein Ib (GpIb) was reassessed using the ristocetin co-factor activity (VWF:RiCo) assay compared to an in-house and a commercial ELISA assay (based on a mAb directed against the GpIb binding site on VWF). This was supplemented by multimeric analysis and the amplification and sequencing of a 936 bp fragment of exon 28 of the VWF gene with the aim of identifying mutations in the A1 domain. On reappraisal, using the VWF:RiCo assay all patients demonstrated a disproportionately reduced VWF:RiCo/VWF:Ag ratio, indicative of a qualitative defect, while abnormal ratios were detected in only seven kindreds using the in-house ELISA assay and in only one kindred with the commercial ELISA assay. Eight single amino acid substitutions were found in nine kindreds, four of which were novel candidate VWF mutations and four previously described in association with type 2 VWD. In agreement with the phenotype, the novel VWF mutations were located in the VWF-A1 crystal structure at positions that corresponded to potential type 2M defects. This study underlines the difficulties of correct diagnosis of the subtype of VWD and emphasises the importance of using sensitive phenotypic assays, the relevance of the VWF:RiCo/ VWF:Ag ratio, multimeric analysis and molecular modelling analysis.