Summary
Thromboelastography (TEG) has been shown to be a valuable point-of-care device for
the rapid diagnosis of various bleeding disorders. However, TEG has thus far not been
used for the screening for von Willebrand disease (VWD). We evaluated the performance
of a modified TEG assay for the laboratory screening of VWD. Three hundred twenty-eight
patients (148 male, 180 female, median age 8.4 years, range 0.1 – 72.7 years) were
included in the study. The diagnosis and classification of patients was based on personal
and familial case history, von Willebrand factor antigen, ristocetin cofactor levels,
collagen binding assay, factor VIII coagulant activity and multimer analysis. The
ratio of clot strength after preincubation with ristocetin, and without ristocetin,
represents the component of clot strength that is formed by cross-linked fibrin fibres
and is dependent on the agglutinated platelet fraction. The decrease of the maximum
amplitude is a function of the ristocetin concentration and provides a diagnostic
parameter able to differentiate between healthy individuals and patients having VWD.
Based on a preliminary cut-off value of 25% for the area under the curve (AUC) ratio,
the sensitivity varied from 53% to 100% for the different VWD patient groups. The
test is suitable for use as a screening test using whole blood and has the additional
benefit of being suitable as a point of care test. It appears also useful for monitoring
responses to desmopressin (DDAVP) and infusion therapy.
Keywords
von Willebrand disease - von Willebrand factor - thromboelastography - Rotem - point
of care