Inhibidores adquiridos de la coagulación: enfoque diagnóstico y casos especiales / Acquired inhibitors of blood coagulation: diagnostic perpective and especial cases / Inibidores adquiridos da coagulação: abordagem diagnóstica e casos especiais

Los inhibidores adquiridos son defectos raros. Se asocian a diferentes manifestaciones clínicas con morbimortalidad significativa. Su detección es importante para implementar el tratamiento sin demora. Hay inhibidores específicos (bloquean función), contra todos los factores de la coagulación y además VWF, o de interferencia (afectan una o varias vías de la coagulación). Los inhibidores específicos son alo-anticuerpos desarrollados en pacientes deficitarios (complicación terapéutica) o auto-anticuerpos presentes en individuos sin alteraciones previas. Hay anticuerpos específicos que pueden afectar la depuración pero no inhiben función. Inhibidores de interferencia: inmunoglobulinas u otras sustancias (heparina/heparinoides, PDF/pdf, PIVKAS, moléculas anómalas, etc.) asociadas a diferentes situaciones clínicas (asintomáticos, sangrados, trombosis y/o complicaciones obstétricas). El laboratorio es fundamental para el diagnóstico. Las pruebas globales detectan el defecto, que no corrigen por el agregado de plasma normal; se caracteriza luego el tipo de inhibidor y eventualmente se titula. Esto es complejo; hay variabilidad en los resultados y posibilidad de falsos positivos o negativos, además las pruebas no son estrictamente específicas. Los algoritmos diagnósticos son útiles, pero no contemplan la posibilidad de defectos combinados. Es crítico caracterizar al inhibidor y descartar posibles interferencias o defectos concomitantes; ello requiere aplicar las pruebas adecuadas e interpretarlas correctamente.

Acquired inhibitors are rare disorders. They are associated with different clinical behaviours and significant morbi-mortality. Detection is important in order to start treatment urgently. There are either specific inhibitors, which block function, against all coagulation factors, and VWF, or with interference effects, on one or more coagulation pathways. Specific inhibitors are either allo-antibodies developed in deficient patients, which give rise to therapeutic complication; or auto-antibodies, which are present in individuals without previous defects. There are specific antibodies that can affect clearance but which cannot block the function. Inhibitors with interference effects are immunoglobulins or other substances (heparin/heparinoids, FDP/fdp, PIVKAS, abnormal molecules, etc.) associated with different clinical settings (asymptomatic, bleeding, thrombosis and/or obstetric complications). Laboratory results are fundamental for the diagnosis. Global tests are able to detect the defect, which is not corrected by the addition of normal plasma; the type of inhibitor is then characterized and titration of the inhibitor is eventually performed. This is complex; there is variability in the results and there is likelihood of false positive or negative results; moreover, the tests are not strictly specific. Diagnostic algorithms are useful tools but they do not consider combined defects. It is a critical point to characterize the inhibitor and exclude possible interferences or concomitant defects; this demands application of the correct tests without misinterpretations.

Os inibidores adquiridos são defeitos raros. Associam-se a diferentes manifestações clínicas com morbimortalidade significativa. Sua detecção é importante para implementar o tratamento sem demora. Há inibidores específicos (bloqueiam função), contra todos os fatores da coagulação e também VWF, ou de interferência (afetam uma ou várias vias da coagulação). Inibidores específicos: - aloanticorpos desenvolvidos em pacientes deficitários (complicação terapêutica); - autoanticorpos, em indivíduos sem alterações prévias. Existem anticorpos específicos que podem afetar a depuração, mas não inibem função. Inibidores de interferência: imunoglobulinas ou outras substâncias (heparina/heparinoides, PDF/pdf, PIVKAS, moléculas anômalas, etc.) associadas a diferentes situações clínicas (assintomáticos, sangramentos, tromboses e/ou complicações obstétricas). O laboratório é fundamental para o diagnóstico. Os testes globais detectam o defeito, que não corrige pelo acréscimo de plasma normal; caracteriza-se depois o tipo de inibidor e eventualmente é titulado. Isto é complexo; há variabilidade nos resultados e possibilidade de falsos positivos ou negativos, além disso os testes não são rigorosamente específicos. Os algoritmos diagnósticos são úteis, mas não consideram a possibilidade de defeitos combinados. É crítico caracterizar o inibidor e descartar possíveis interferências ou defeitos concomitantes; isso requer aplicar os testes adequados e interpretá-los corretamente.

Inhibidor lúpico en situaciones clínicas diferentes al síndrome antifosfolipídico / Lupus inhibitor in clinical situations other than antiphospholipid syndrome

El inhibidor lúpico (IL) es uno de los criterios de laboratorio para Síndrome Antifosfolipídico (SAF); sin embargo, puede detectarse en individuos asintomáticos o estar asociado a otras situaciones clínicas. Presentamos un análisis retrospectivo de 1000 exámenes consecutivos para IL (TTPA, DRVVT) de los cuales 249 casos no presentaban criterios clínicos de SAF. Aplicando los criterios SSC-ISTH, hallamos IL+ en 27,30% (205/751) y 43,37% (108/249) de los casos con y sin criterios clínicos de SAF respectivamente; analizándose en estos últimos casos las características clínicas y de laboratorio. Contexto clínico de casos IL+ sin SAF: 18,52% asintomáticos, 34,26% síntomas de sangrado y 47,22% otras manifestaciones. Otras alteraciones de laboratorio en casos IL+ sin SAF, con síntomas de sangrado: detectamos alteraciones plaquetarias, descenso de VWF:RCo y/o VWF:Ag, disminución de FVIII, FV, FVII, FXI o fibrinógeno e hiperfibrinolisis en el 54,05% de los casos. El análisis mostró detección de IL+ en un número importante de estudios (108/1000) sin criterios SAF. Los casos con IL+ y sangrado representan un desafío particular, al requerir evaluar otros posibles defectos subyacentes, que pudiesen justificar el comportamiento clínico. La detección e identificación de defectos combinados requiriere de un análisis minucioso, a fin de alcanzar un diagnóstico correcto, esencial para tomar decisiones terapéuticas adecuadas. (AU)

Despite lupus anticoagulant (LA) is one of the laboratory criteria for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), it can be present in asymptomatic subjects or it can be associated with other clinical settings. We present a retrospective analysis of 1000 consecutive LA assays (APTT, DRVVT), 249 of them were performed in patients without clinical criteria for APS. According to ISTH criteria, positive LA was found in 27.30% (205/751) and 43.37% (108/249) of cases with or without APS criteria respectively; in the last group, the analysis of clinical background and laboratory characteristics was done. Clinical background of LA+ cases without APS: 18.52% asymptomatic, 34.26% bleeding symptoms and 47.22% other clinical settings. Other abnormal laboratory tests in LA+ cases without APS and bleeding symptoms: platelet dysfunction; low VWF:RCo and/or VWF:Ag; decrease of FVIII, FV, FVII, FXI or fibrinogen and hyperfibrinolysis were found in the 54.05% of the cases. The analysis showed positive LA in an important number of cases (108/1000) without criteria of APS. Those LA+ cases with bleeding symptoms represent a particular challenge because other possible underlying defects have to be analysed in order to explain the clinical behaviour. The detection and identifications of combined defects required a careful analysis in order to achieve accurate diagnosis, essential for therapeutic decisions. (AU)

Efecto del inhibidor lúpico o anti-factor VIII sobre la actividad del factor VIII-sustrato cromogénico / Lupus anticoagulant or anti-factor VIII effect on factor VIII activity-chromogenic substrate

El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar el efecto de inmunoglobulinas (IgG) purificadas con actividad anti-factor VIII neutralizante o inhibidor lúpico, sobre el factor VIII medido por sustrato cromogénico (factor VIII SC), con el propósito de validar el método para detectar anti-factor VIII en presencia de inhibidor lúpico. Se aisló la fracción IgG (cromatografía de afinidad) a partir de plasmas normales (IgG-N), con anti-factor VIII (IgG-aFVIII) o con inhibidor lúpico (IgG-IL), preparándose un pool normal como aporte de factor VIII en los ensayos de inhibición. Se analizaron las mezclas del pool normal con IgG-N, IgG-aFVIII, IgG-IL o la combinación de IgG-aFVIII+IgG-IL, inmediatamente y luego de 2 h a 37 ºC, determinándose la actividad del factor VIII SC y el índice de inhibición inmediato (Ii) o post-incubación (Ip). La inhibición y la potenciación producida por IgG-aFVIII+IgG-IL (Ii:30%±0,7; Ip:55%±2,7), fueron similares a las observadas con IgG-aFVIII sola (Ii:30%±0,6; Ip:55%±2,7). La IgG-IL no afectó la actividad de factor VIII SC. Semejante a lo observado en plasma, la IgG-IL no interfirió en la inhibición del factor VIII SC mediada por IgG-aFVIII. Se confirmó así la especificidad del método amidolítico, que permite detectar inhibidores anti-factor VIII independientemente de la coexistencia con el inhibidor lúpico, solucionando el problema diagnóstico planteado en hemofilia A.

To analyse the effect of purified immunoglobulins (IgG) with anti-factor VIII or lupus anticoagulant activity on factor VIII measured by chromogenic substrate (factor VIIICS), in order to validate the chromogenic substrate method for detection of anti-factor VIII activity in the presence of lupus anticoagulant. IgG fractions were purified (affinity chromatography) from normal plasmas (IgG-N) and plasmas with anti-factor VIII (IgG-aFVIII) or lupus anticoagulant (IgG-LA). A normal plasma pool was prepared as source of factor VIII in the inhibition tests. Mixtures of this pool with IgG-N, IgG-aFVIII, IgG-LA or IgG-aFVIII+IgG-LA were tested immediately or after 2 h at 37 °C by factor VIIICS method; inhibition index (Ii) and post-incubation index (Ip) were calculated. The inhibitory and progressive inhibitory effects produced by IgG-aFVIII+IgG-LA (Ii:30%±0.7; Ip:55%±2.7) were similar to those observed with IgG-aFVIII (Ii:30%±0.6; Ip:55%±2.7). The IgG-LA did not inhibit the factor VIIIcs activity. As was observed in plasma samples, IgG-aFVIII and the mixture of IgG-aFVIII+IgG-LA inhibited factor VIIICS, whereas IgG-LA did not. These results confirm the specificity of the amidolytic method in detecting anti-factor VIII inhibitors independently of the presence of lupus anticoagulant, thus solving the diagnostic problem in haemophilia A.