Successful conservative management of thrombocytopenia in adult hemophiliacs

Hematologic abnormalities, including thrombocytopenia, have been reported in persons with acquired immune deficiency syndrome and in hemophiliacs. Seven of 92 adult hemophiliacs followed in a comprehensive hemophilia center developed mild to moderately severe thrombocytopenia in 1983. All had benign courses. None required therapy for thrombocytopenia, although several had increased cutaneous bleeding. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus may be important in the pathogenesis of these patients' thrombocytopenia as it has been in that of homosexual men.

High prevalence and high titers of LAV/HTLV-III antibodies in healthy hemophiliacs in the midwestern United States

Twenty-eight patients from the Nebraska Regional Hemophilia Center were studied for the prevalence and titers of antibodies to lymphadenopathy-associated virus/human T cell lymphotropic virus type III (LAV/HTLV-III) and for clinical symptoms of possible progression to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ten of 18 (56 percent) patients with hemophilia A who were frequently treated with commercial factor VIII concentrate were seropositive for LAV/HTLV-III antibodies as determined by immunofluorescent study and Western blot testing. Of the four factor VIII-deficient patients who were seronegative, one had received only heat-treated factor VIII concentrates, two had received only cryoprecipitate, and one had received no transfusions since 1983. None of the patients treated only with factor IX concentrate, volunteer donor plasma, or cryoprecipitate had LAV/HTLV-III antibodies. In nine of 10 seropositive hemophiliacs, titers of serum antibodies to LAV/HTLV-III ranged from 1:1,280 to 1:10,240, indicating a strong immune response against LAV/HTLV-III antigens and/or persistent infection with the virus. Serum from seropositive hemophiliacs interacted on Western blot testing with all the major LAV/HTLV-III polypeptides, including envelope proteins gp 42 and gp 120. Despite the possible exposure to LAV/HTLV-III during the past four years, none of the patients in this group had symptoms suggestive of progression towards AIDS. Whether or not immunity to the AIDS retrovirus developed in this group of patients remains to be determined.

HTLV-III/LAV antibodies and virus in hemophilia patients in Nebraska: survey and initiation of a prospective study

Thirty-nine patients from the Nebraska Regional Hemophilia Center were studied for the prevalence and titers of antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV, and for clinical symptoms of possible progression toward the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fourteen of 26 (54%) patients with hemophilia A were positive for HTLV-III/LAV antibodies as determined by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Retrovirus was detected in cultured lymphocytes of two out of three seropositive individuals by reverse transcriptase assay and molecular hybridization with cloned HTLV-III/LAV probe. Of the twelve factor VIII-deficient patients who were seronegative, one had received only heat-treated factor VIII concentrates, six only cryoprecipitate or fresh frozen plasma, two prothrombin complex concentrates, one had not been transfused since 1983, and two had never been transfused. None of the patients treated only with factor IX concentrates, volunteer donor plasma, or cryoprecipitate had HTLV-III/LAV antibodies. In 12 of 14 seropositive hemophiliacs, titers of serum antibodies to HTLV-III/LAV ranged from 1:1,280 to 1:10,240, indicating a strong immune response against HTLV-III/LAV antigens and/or persistent infection with the virus. In spite of the possible exposure to HTLV-III/LAV during the past four years, none of the patients in this group had AIDS. Whether or not this group of patients has developed immunity to the AIDS retrovirus remains to be determined.

An idiopathic factor VIII anticoagulant: resolution following plasmapheresis and cytotoxic therapy

A case is described in which plasmapheresis and immunosuppressive therapy were employed to treat a patient with a spontaneously occurring idiopathic polyclonal immunoglobulin G factor VIII anticoagulant. The favorable response observed supports the usefulness of the described treatment methods for the acute and chronic management of acquired circulating factor VIII inhibitors.

Successful cardiac surgery following plasmapheresis in a patient with hemophilia B

A case of successful coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with hemophilia B is described. The patient underwent preoperative plasmapheresis and replacement with fresh-frozen plasma. Fresh-frozen plasma was administered pre- and postoperatively. The use of factor IX concentrate was avoided.

Reversible oxidant-induced increases in albumin transfer across cultured endothelium: alterations in cell shape and calcium homeostasis

To determine whether reactive oxygen molecules could directly and reversibly increase the transfer of albumin across an endothelial barrier, we measured albumin transfer across monolayers of endothelium cultured on micropore filters before and after exposure to xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Xanthine and xanthine oxidase increased endothelial albumin transfer in a dose-dependent fashion. Parallel phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy demonstrated retraction of adjacent cells from one another and disruption of the actin filaments. The oxidant-induced increases in albumin transfer and changes in cell shape were reversed by removing xanthine oxidase and then incubating the monolayers for 3 1/2 hours in tissue culture media enriched with fetal bovine serum. However, incubation in tissue culture media without serum resulted in progressive injury and cell death. Hence, the brief exposure to oxidants initiated a progressive injury process that was reversed by incubation in serum. Because intracellular and extracellular calcium are important determinants of cell shape, and because some oxidized membrane lipids act as calcium ionophores, we asked whether oxidants altered endothelial calcium homeostasis. Xanthine-xanthine oxidase increased release of 45Ca++ from preloaded cells. The calcium antagonist lanthanum chloride prevented xanthine-xanthine oxidase increases in endothelial albumin transfer and prevented the changes in cell shape; chelation of extracellular calcium inhibited lysis of endothelium by xanthine-xanthine oxidase; and the calcium ionophore A23187 increased endothelial albumin transfer and mimicked the oxidant-induced changes in cell shape. Lanthanum chloride inhibited these effects of A23187. These data suggest that oxygen radicals can reversibly increase endothelial permeability to macromolecules, that this is associated with reversible changes in endothelial cell shape and actin filaments, and that the changes in cell shape are related to oxidant-induced changes in endothelial calcium homeostasis.

Endothelial cell cycle kinetics. Changes in culture and correlation with endothelial properties

Endothelial cells in culture have emerged as a model system for evaluation of endothelial properties. Culture conditions may affect expression of these endothelial properties or growth characteristics. Therefore, we evaluated cell cycle kinetics, prostacyclin release, and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in primary and subcultured cells from bovine pulmonary and systemic vessels. Prostacyclin release was highly variable during passage in culture. However, release following stimulation with ionophore A23187 declined with serial passage. Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity also declined with repeated subculturing. Greater than 10% of primary confluent bovine endothelial cells were cycling compared to 2 to 8% of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. With passage in culture, 25% of bovine endothelial cells were cycling at confluence. Occasional strains of subcultured bovine endothelium arrested in G2 but would reenter G1 upon subculturing. Exposure to trypsin did not appear to contribute to this phenomenon. These studies have demonstrated variability in endothelial cell properties and growth characteristics during in vitro propagation. The existence of this variability must be considered when studying properties or responses of subcultured endothelium.

Immunologic injury to vascular endothelial cells: effects on release of prostacyclin

Prostacyclin is released from cultured and ex vivo bovine vascular endothelium following sublethal immunologic injury by a heterologous antibody to endothelial cells developed in rabbits. This release was dependent on calcium and complement and was not enhanced by the presence of platelets. Prostacyclin release was diminished 1-2 hr after the injury, but recovered fully following reculture of the endothelial cells for 72 hr.

Hemophilic arthropathy complicated by polyarticular septic arthritis

A case of multiple pyarthroses due to Staphylococcus aureus occurring in a severe classical hemophiliac is presented. Successful management depended on drainage of the infected joints and a prolonged course of antibiotics. Several criteria are suggested for recognition of hemophiliacs who might benefit from joint aspiration as a diagnostic tool for the presence of septic arthritis.