Glycocalyx components affect platelet function, whole blood coagulation, and fibrinolysis: an in vitro study suggesting a link to trauma-induced coagulopathy.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of trauma induced coagulopathy (TIC) are considered multifactorial. Amongst others, however, shedding of the endothelial glycocalyx resulting in increased concentrations of glycocalyx fragments in plasma might also play a role. Thus, we hypothesized that shedded glycocalyx components affect coagulation and may act as humoral mediators of TIC. METHODS: To investigate effects of heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, syndecan-1, versican, and thrombomodulin we added these fragments to in vitro assays of whole blood from healthy volunteers to yield concentrations observed in trauma patients. Platelet function, whole blood coagulation, and fibrinolysis were measured by standard coagulation tests, impedance aggregometry (IA), and viscoelastic tests (VET). To assess dose-response relationships, we performed IA with increasing concentrations of versican and VET with increasing concentrations of thrombomodulin. RESULTS: Intrinsically activated clotting times (i.e., activated partial thromboplastin time and intrinsically activated VET with and without heparinase) were unaffected by any glycocalyx fragment. Thrombomodulin, however, significantly and dose-dependently diminished fibrinolysis as assessed by VET with exogenously added rt-PA, and increased rt-PA-induced lysis Indices after 30 (up to 108% of control, p <  0,0001), 45 (up to 368% of control, p <  0,0001), and 60 min (up to 950% of control, p <  0,0001) in VET. Versican impaired platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid (up to - 37,6%, p <  0,0001), ADP (up to - 14,5%, p <  0,0001), and collagen (up to - 31,8%, p <  0,0001) in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect TRAP-6 induced platelet aggregation. Clotting time in extrinsically activated VET was shortened by heparan sulfate (- 7,2%, p = 0,024), chondroitin sulfate (- 11,6%, p = 0,016), versican (- 13%, p = 0,012%), and when combined (- 7,2%, p = 0,007). CONCLUSIONS: Glycocalyx components exert distinct inhibitory effects on platelet function, coagulation, and fibrinolysis. These data do not support a 'heparin-like auto-anticoagulation' by shed glycosaminoglycans but suggest a possible role of versican in trauma-induced thrombocytopathy and of thrombomodulin in trauma-associated impairment of endogenous fibrinolysis.

Point-of-care measurement of activated clotting time for cardiac surgery as measured by the Hemochron signature elite and the Abbott i-STAT: agreement, concordance, and clinical reliability.

BACKGROUND: Since inadequate heparin anticoagulation and insufficient reversal can result in complications during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery, heparin anticoagulation monitoring by point-of-care (POC) activated clotting time (ACT) measurements is essential for CPB initiation, maintainance, and anticoagulant reversal. However, concerns exist regarding reproducibility of ACT assays and comparability of devices. METHODS: We evaluated the agreement of ACT assays using four parallel measurements performed on two commonly used devices each (i.e., two Hemochron Signature Elite (Hemochron) and two Abbott i-STAT (i-STAT) devices, respectively). Blood samples from 30 patients undergoing cardiac surgery on CPB were assayed at specified steps (baseline, after heparin administration, after protamine administration) with four parallel measurements (two of each device type) using commercial Kaolin activated assays provided by the respective manufactures. Measurements were compared between identical and different device types using linear regression, Bland-Altman analyses, and calculation of Cohen's kappa coefficient. RESULTS: Parallel i-STAT ACTs demonstrated a good linear correlation (r = 0.985). Bias, as determined by Bland-Altman analysis, was low (- 3.8 s; 95% limits of agreement (LOA): - 77.8 -70.2 s), and Cohen's Kappa demonstrated good agreement (kappa = 0.809). Hemochron derived ACTs demonstrated worse linear correlation (r = 0.782), larger bias with considerably broader LOA (- 13.14 s; 95%LOA:-316.3-290 s), and lesser concordance between parallel assays (kappa = 0.554). Although demonstrating a fair linear correlation (r = 0.815), parallel measurements on different ACT-devices showed large bias (-20s; 95% LOA: - 290-250 s) and little concordance (kappa = 0.368). Overall, disconcordant results according to clinically predefined target values were more frequent with the Hemochron than i-STAT. Furthermore, while discrepancies in ACT between two parallel iSTAT assays showed little or no clinical relevance, deviations from parallel Hemochron assays and iSTAT versus Hemochron measurements revealed marked and sometimes clinically critical deviations. CONCLUSION: Currently used ACT point-of-care devices cannot be used interchangeably. Furthermore, our data question the reliability of the Hemochron in assessing adequacy of heparin anticoagulation monitoring for CPB.

[Point-of-Care Testing in Trauma Patients - Methods and Evidence]. / Point-of-Care-Diagnostik in der Traumatologie ­ Methoden und Evidenz.

In severely injured patients, trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) present at hospital admission is associated with increased transfusion requirements, morbidity and mortality. Early and effective treatment contributes to improved survival rates. Laboratory coagulation assays have long turn-around times and evidence for their usefulness, especially in the context of TIC, is weak. Due to the lack of appropriate guidance, transfusion of allogeneic blood products frequently follows a ratio-based concept (e.g., transfusion of erythrocytes and plasma in a 1 : 1 ratio). Point-of-care (PoC) tests enable the assessment of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time in few minutes. However, although normal PT in these tests allows to rule out relevant effects of several anticoagulants, they are not able to detect patients with TIC and/or requiring subsequent massive transfusion. Viscoelastic tests (VETs) make it possible to assess defects in thrombin generation, hypofibrinogenaemia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperfibrinolysis, and thus enable targeted therapy. Impairment of platelet function is the common blind spot not detectable using both standard laboratory-based tests and VETs. However, PoC platelet function tests enable to detect platelet defects and patients taking anti-platelet. Furthermore, impaired platelet function has been identified as a strong predictor for coagulopathy and massive transfusion in trauma patients. In other clinical settings, coagulation management based on VETs is associated with decreased transfusion requirements, incidence of acute kidney failure, and mortality, respectively. Data of the first small prospective randomised trial indicate superiority of VET guided coagulation management solely using coagulation factor concentrates, when compared to plasma transfusions in severe trauma.

Anticoagulant Effect of Sugammadex: Just an In Vitro Artifact.

BACKGROUND: Sugammadex prolongs activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and prothrombin time (PT) suggestive of anticoagulant effects. To pinpoint its presumed anticoagulant site of action, the authors assessed Sugammadex's impact on a panel of coagulation assays. METHODS: Sugammadex, Rocuronium, Sugammadex and Rocuronium combined, or saline were added to blood samples from healthy volunteers and analyzed using plasmatic (i.e., aPTT, thrombin time, and fibrinogen concentration) (n = 8 each), PT (quick), activities of plasmatic coagulation factors, and whole blood (extrinsically and intrinsically activated thromboelastometry) assays (n = 18 each). Furthermore, dose-dependent effects of Sugammadex were also assessed (n = 18 each) in diluted Russel viper venom time (DRVVT) assays with low (DRVVT1) and high (DRVVT2) phospholipid concentrations and in a highly phospholipid-sensitive aPTT assay. RESULTS: Sugammadex increased PT (+9.1%; P < 0.0001), aPTT (+13.1%; P = 0.0002), and clotting time in extrinsically (+33.1%; P = 0.0021) and intrinsically (+22.4%; P < 0.0001) activated thromboelastometric assays. Furthermore, activities of factors VIII, IX, XI, and XII decreased (-7%, P = 0.009; -7.8%, P < 0.0001; -6.9%, P < 0.0001; and -4.3%, P = 0.011, respectively). Sugammadex dose-dependently prolonged both DRVVT1 and the highly phospholipid-sensitive aPTT assays, but additional phospholipids in the DRVVT2 assay almost abolished these prolongations. Thrombin time, a thromboelastometric thrombin generation assay, clot firmness, clot lysis, fibrinogen concentration, and activities of other coagulation factors were unaltered. Rocuronium, Sugammadex and Rocuronium combined, and saline exerted no effects. CONCLUSION: Sugammadex significantly affects various coagulation assays, but this is explainable by an apparent phospholipid-binding effect, suggesting that Sugammadex`s anticoagulant effects are likely an in vitro artifact.

Sorafenib inhibits intracellular signaling pathways and induces cell cycle arrest and cell death in thyroid carcinoma cells irrespective of histological origin or BRAF mutational status.

BACKGROUND: Patients with dedifferentiated or anaplastic thyroid carcinomas currently lack appropriate treatment options. Kinase inhibitors are among the most promising new agents as alternative strategies. The BRAF- and multi-kinase inhibitor, sorafenib, has already shown antitumor effects in thyroid carcinoma patients in a phase III clinical trial. In this study we aim to better characterize molecular effects and efficacy of sorafenib against thyroid carcinoma cells with various histological origins and different BRAF mutational status. Analysis of different signaling pathways affected by sorafenib may contribute to assist a more specific therapy choice with fewer side effects. Twelve thyroid carcinoma cell lines derived from anaplastic, follicular and papillary thyroid carcinomas with wildtype or mutationally activated BRAF were treated with sorafenib. Growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest, cell death induction and inhibition of intracellular signaling pathways were then comprehensively analyzed. METHODS: Cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay, and the cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining. Cell death was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase liberation assays, caspase activity assays and subG1 peak determinations. Inhibition of intracellular pathways was analyzed in dot blot and western blot analyses. RESULTS: Sorafenib inhibited proliferation of all thyroid carcinoma cell lines tested with IC50 values ranging between 1.85 and 4.2 µM. Cells derived from papillary carcinoma harboring the mutant BRAF (V600E) allele were slightly more sensitive to sorafenib than those harboring wildtype BRAF. Cell cycle analyses and caspase assays showed a sorafenib-dependent induction of apoptosis in all cell lines, whereas increased lactate dehydrogenase release suggested cell membrane disruption. Sorafenib treatment caused a rapid inhibition of various MAP kinases in addition to inhibiting AKT and receptor tyrosine kinases. CONCLUSIONS: Sorafenib inhibited multiple intracellular signaling pathways in thyroid carcinoma cells, which resulted in cell cycle arrest and the initiation of apoptosis. Sorafenib was effective against all thyroid carcinoma cell lines regardless of their tumor subtype origin or BRAF status, confirming that sorafenib is therapeutically beneficial for patients with any subtype of dedifferentiated thyroid cancer. Inhibition of single intracellular targets of sorafenib in thyroid carcinoma cells may allow the development of more specific therapeutic intervention with less side effects.