Emicizumab Augments Thrombus Formation in Whole Blood from Patients with Hemophilia A under High Shear Flow Conditions

Abstract

Background Emicizumab is a bispecific antibody to factor (F) IXa and FX that mimics the FVIIIa cofactor function. Emicizumab prophylaxis markedly decreases bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A (PwHAs), irrespective of the presence of FVIII inhibitors. However, thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) was reported when repeated high doses of activated prothrombin complex concentrates (aPCC) were concomitantly used with emicizumab. Although bypassing agents (BPAs) are vital in the hemostatic treatment for PwHAs with inhibitors, the mechanism of emicizumab-related TMA remains unclear.

Aim To assess the risk of excessive thrombus formation associated with BPAs and emicizumab under high shear conditions.

Methods Perfusion flow-chamber experiments under high shear conditions were performed using whole blood from PwHAs in the presence of emicizumab without or together with FVIII or BPAs ex vivo.

Results Emicizumab (100 μg/mL) added ex vivo to whole blood from PwHAs improved defective thrombus formation in a similar manner to that observed with the addition of recombinant FVIII at the early phase, while FVIII continued to be important at the later stages. aPCC (1.2 U/mL equivalent to 100 U/kg) or recombinant FVIIa (1.1 µg/mL; equivalent to 90 µg/kg) together with emicizumab further promoted platelet interactions and fibrin formation ex vivo but did not induce excessive thrombus formation.

Conclusion Emicizumab enhanced thrombin generation at local sites and improved defective hemostasis in whole blood from PwHAs under high shear conditions. Simple concomitant use of BPAs with emicizumab did not mediate excessive thrombus formation and remains an option for hemostatic management of emicizumab-treated PwHAs with inhibitors.

Keywords

emicizumab - FVIII - thrombus formation - bypassing agents - flow chamber

Authors' Contributions

H.Y. performed the experiments, analyzed and interpreted the data, and made the figures; Y.S. designed and performed the experiments, interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript; T.K. prepared emicizumab and interpreted the data; M.S. supervised this study; K.N. designed the experiments, interpreted the data, wrote the manuscript, and approved the submission of this manuscript.

Publication History

Received: 12 February 2020

Accepted: 07 August 2020

Article published online:
09 September 2020

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