1,721,141 research outputs found
Inherited thrombocytopenias: an updated guide for clinicians
No full textThe great advances in the knowledge of inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs) made since the turn of the century have significantly changed our view of these conditions. To date, ITs encompass 45 disorders with different degrees of complexity of the clinical picture and very wide variability in the prognosis. They include forms characterized by thrombocytopenia alone, forms that present with other congenital defects, and conditions that predispose to acquire additional diseases over the course of life. In this review, we recapitulate the clinical features of ITs with emphasis on the forms predisposing to additional diseases. We then discuss the key issues for a rational approach to the diagnosis of ITs in clinical practice. Finally, we aim to provide an updated and comprehensive guide to the treatment of ITs, including the management of hemostatic challenges, the treatment of severe forms, and the approach to the manifestations that add to thrombocytopenia
Genetics of familial forms of thrombocytopenia
No full textThe joint application of clinical and genetic investigation to patients with inherited thrombocytopenias, as well as the availability of new methods for studying megakaryopoiesis, has greatly expanded the knowledge of these disorders in the last few years with regard to their etiology, pathogenesis and clinical aspects. In particular, new diseases have been described, as deriving from mutations in the genes FLNA, TUBB1, ITGA2/ITGB3, ANKRD26, CYCS, and ABCG5 or ABCG8. Moreover, forms previously considered separate entities were found to be different clinical aspects of a single disease. For instance, identification of MYH9 as the gene whose mutations cause the May-Hegglin anomaly led to the recognition that Sebastian platelet syndrome, Epstein syndrome, and Fechtner syndrome derive from mutations of the same gene and describe overlapping disorders. Despite these advances, knowledge of hereditary thrombocytopenias is still far from satisfactory because for approximately half of the patients it is not possible to formulate a definite diagnosis in that their illnesses has not yet been described. In this review, we provide a systematic description of hereditary thrombocytopenias as we know them today, giving special attention to genetic aspects
Thrombopoietin receptor agonists in hereditary thrombocytopenias
No full textHereditary thrombocytopenias (HTPs) constitute a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by a reduction in platelet count and a potential bleeding risk. As a result of advances in diagnostic methods, HTPs are increasingly being identified, and appear to be less rare than previously thought. Most HTPs do not have effective treatments, except for platelet transfusion when bleeding occurs and in preparation for procedures associated with a risk of bleeding. Preliminary clinical evidence suggests that thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) with an established use in the treatment of certain acquired thrombocytopenias are well tolerated and provide clinical benefits in patients with some forms of HTP. These drugs may therefore be considered for the treatment of HTPs in clinical practice. However, caution and close monitoring are recommended, owing to the absence of long-term safety data and the potential risks posed by prolonged bone marrow stimulation in certain HTPs. In this review, we summarize the available clinical data on TPO-RAs in the treatment of HTPs, and discuss their use in patients with these disorders. We believe that TPO-RAs will play a major role in the treatment of HTPs, particularly myosin heavy chain 9-related disease, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, X-linked thrombocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia caused by THPO mutations
Recent advances in the understanding and management of MYH9-related inherited thrombocytopenias
No full textMYH9-related disease (MYH9-RD) is one of the most frequent forms of inherited thrombocytopenia. It is transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion and derives from mutations of MYH9, the gene for the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA. Patients present with congenital macrothrombocytopenia with mild bleeding tendency and may develop kidney dysfunction, deafness and cataracts later in life. The term MYH9-RD encompasses four autosomal-dominant thrombocytopenias that were previously described as distinct disorders, namely May-Hegglin Anomaly, Sebastian, Fechtner and Epstein syndromes. Thrombocytopenia is usually mild and derives from complex defects of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet formation. It is easily diagnosed, in that the presence of giant platelets in peripheral blood raises the suspicion of MYH9-RD and a simple immunofluorescence test on blood films confirms the diagnostic hypothesis. However, genotype/phenotype correlations have been recognized and mutation screening is therefore required to define the risk of acquiring extra-haematological defects. Results of a small clinical study suggested that a non-peptide thrombopoietin mimetic might greatly benefit both thrombocytopenia and bleeding tendency of MYH9-RD patients
Effect of cAMP on the association of small GTP-binding proteins with the cytoskeleton of human platelets
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Dual mechanism of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in Concavalin A - stimulated platelets
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