Marzia Menegatti

Factor VII deficiency (FVIID) is among the most common rare bleeding disorders. The ability of FVII coagulant activity (FVII:C) levels and genetic variants to predict clinical outcomes remain limited. We evaluated the discriminative performance of FVII:C levels, genotype-phenotype associations, and the accuracy of in silico tools in identifying pathogenic variants. In total, 422 patients from 3 international registries were analyzed. Overall, 61% experienced bleeding, predominantly spontaneous (73%); 20% had grade I, 27% had grade II, and 14% had grade III bleeding. Lower FVII:C levels showed a moderate inverse correlation with bleeding scores and were more common in individuals with spontaneous bleeding (r = −0.49; P< .0001). FVII:C levels showed moderate discrimination for asymptomatic status (area under the curve [AUC], 0.72) and strong discrimination for grade III bleeding (AUC, 0.84). Cutoffs of ≥19 IU/dLand <11 IU/dL identified asymptomatic individuals and those with grade III bleeding. We identified 90 variants, including 10 novel; 60% were missense, and 63% localized to the serine protease domain. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria, 86% were pathogenic/likely pathogenic. The sensitivity of in silico tools was 96%, 85%, and 60% for REVEL, CADD, and AlphaMissense. Severe deficiency was more common in homozygous individuals (90%), whereas heterozygous individuals predominantly exhibited mild/moderate deficiency (92%). Consistently, bleeding phenotypes were frequent in individuals with homozygous/compound heterozygous variants, whereas most heterozygous variants were asymptomatic (71%). Overall, FVII:C levels moderately stratify bleeding severity. Homozygous/compound heterozygous variants are associated with lower FVII:C levels and more severe bleeding, whereas heterozygous variants are mostly asymptomatic. Among in silico tools, REVEL demonstrated the highest sensitivity.

Suppression of plasminogen activation and/or plasmin activity (PA) reduces blood loss and decreases hemorrhage-related death. However, whether the endogenous PA system is a biological mechanism to prevent intravascular thrombus formation is debated, and the potential that reduced PA may increase venous thrombosis/thromboembolism (VTE) risk cautions against the use of antifibrinolytic agents. We aimed to determine the contribution of PA to VTE. Type 1 plasminogen-deficient humans enrolled in the Hypoplasminogenemia International Retrospective and Prospective Cohort Study registry reported pathologic pseudomembrane formation, but not unprovoked VTE. When subjected to an experimental model of venous thrombosis, compared with Plg+/+ mice, neither partial (Plg+/−) nor complete (Plg–/–) deletion of plasminogen altered thrombus mass or thrombus nucleated cell, platelet, or fibrin(ogen) content at 24 or 6 hours after thrombus induction. Administration of tranexamic acid (TXA) to mouse plasma in vitro or healthy mice in vivo dose-dependently delayed and suppressed plasma plasmin generation for up to 3 hours. However, mice administered TXA did not have significantly altered thrombus mass or thrombus composition at 24 or 6 hours after thrombus induction, despite unexpectedly persistent TXA in plasma. In a genome-wide association study, variants in gene regions encoding PA pathway proteins were not significantly associated with VTE risk. In the UK Biobank repository, plasminogen protein levels were not significantly associated with VTE risk. These data from genetic, pharmacologic, and proteomic analyses of mice and humans indicate that perturbations in PA do not increase VTE risk. Collectively, these results suggest PA is not a molecular regulatory mechanism to protect against VTE. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03797495).

Coagulation factor X (FX), originally named Stuart–Prower factor, plays a pivotal role in the coagulation cascade, activating thrombin to promote platelet plug formation and prevent excess blood loss. Genetic variants in F10 may lead to FX deficiency and to impaired coagulation. FX variants are phenotypically classified as being type I, with the concomitant reduction of FX coagulant activity and FX antigen levels or type II, corresponding to a reduction in activity with normal antigen plasma levels. Patients affected with FX deficiency tend to be one of the most seriously affected among those with rare bleeding disorders. They show a variable bleeding tendency strongly associated with FX coagulant activity levels in plasma and may present, in the severe form of the deficiency, life-threatening symptoms such as gastrointestinal and umbilical stump bleeding and intracranial hemorrhages or central nervous system bleeding. Treatment of FX deficiency was originally based on the replacement of the missing factor using fresh frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate and prothrombin complex concentrates; however, a plasma-derived concentrate, shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, is now available. In addition, novel nonreplacement therapy such as small interference RNA, gene therapy, drug repurposing, and gene editing may also represent novel therapeutic approaches for FX deficiency, but further, much focused studies are needed before considering this emerging therapy in such patients.

Congenital fibrinogen deficiency (CFD) is a rare bleeding disorder caused by mutations in FGA, FGB, and FGG. We sought to comprehensively characterize patients with CFD using PRO-RBDD (Prospective Rare Bleeding Disorders Database). Clinical phenotypes, laboratory, and genetic features were investigated using retrospective data from the PRO-RBDD. Patients were classified from asymptomatic to grade 3 based on their bleeding severity. In addition, FGA, FGB, and FGG were sequenced to find causative variants. A total of 166 CFD cases from 16 countries were included, of whom 123 (30 afibrinogenemia, 33 hypofibrinogenemia, 55 dysfibrinogenemia, and 5 hypodysfibrinogenemia) were well characterized. Considering the previously established factor activity and antigen level thresholds, bleeding severity was correctly identified in 58% of the cases. The rates of thrombotic events among afibrinogenemic and hypofibrinogenemic patients were relatively similar (11% and 10%, respectively) and surprisingly higher than in dysfibrinogenemic cases. The rate of spontaneous abortions among 68 pregnancies was 31%, including 86% in dysfibrinogenemic women and 14% with hypofibrinogenemia. Eighty-six patients received treatment (69 on-demand and/or 17 on prophylaxis), with fibrinogen concentrates being the most frequently used product. Genetic analysis was available for 91 cases and 41 distinct variants were identified. Hotspot variants (FGG, p.Arg301Cys/His and FGA, p.Arg35Cys/His) were present in 51% of dysfibrinogenemia. Obstetric complications were commonly observed in dysfibrinogenemia. This large multicenter study provided a comprehensive insight into the clinical, laboratory, and genetic history of patients with CFDs. We conclude that bleeding severity grades were in agreement with the established factor activity threshold in nearly half of the cases with quantitative defects.

Living with an ultra-rare inherited bleeding disorder is challenging. Patients can feel alone and unsure of where to find support because their disorder is so rare. In this paper, a group of ultra-rare bleeding disorder experts, including doctors, researchers, regulators, patient advocates, and patients, identify the research that could best improve the lives of people with these disorders. They propose a national network of specialists who can help doctors, who may never have seen these disorders before, to find the right diagnosis faster. A centralized laboratory specialized in ultra-rare bleeding disorders could also improve diagnosis and do research studies. This would help us learn, for example, how symptoms change throughout a patient’s life, how effective different treatments are, and what it is like for patients to live with these disorders. A second research priority is to better understand each individual disorder so that the best treatments can be chosen or developed. A pathway showing doctors which treatment options to try, in which order, would help them help their patients. The third research priority is to make it easier to study new treatments for ultra-rare bleeding disorders. This requires designing studies with very small numbers of participants, identifying meaningful outcomes to measure, and convincing pharmaceutical companies to invest in these studies. International agreement on these requirements would allow more patients to participate and benefit from the research. These top-priority research goals should greatly improve knowledge about, and diagnosis and treatment of, ultra-rare inherited bleeding disorders.

Autoantibodies toward clotting factors may develop in people suffering from autoimmune or neoplastic diseases, after drug intake or even in subjects without apparent conditions. They are more commonly directed against factor VIII (FVIII) or von Willebrand factor leading to acquired hemophilia A or acquired von Willebrand syndrome, respectively. Rarely, autoantibodies develop against other clotting factors, such as fibrinogen, FII, FV, FVII, FX, FXI, and FXIII. The clinical picture of an acquired bleeding disorder includes a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from minimal or no bleeding to life-threatening events. Patients with no previous personal or family history of bleeding may have sudden-onset hemorrhagic manifestations, sometimes fatal, especially if an early diagnosis is not made. On the other hand, some patients may not have hemorrhagic symptoms at onset, and their diagnosis can therefore be delayed. The laboratory diagnostic assessment is performed by screening coagulation tests followed by specific factor-level measurement and inhibitor-titrating assays. An early diagnosis of acquired coagulopathies is mandatory for starting the appropriate treatment aimed at both controlling the acute bleeding episode mainly using the bypassing agents, and eradicating the anticlotting factor autoantibody, using immunosuppressive treatment. Therefore, prompt intervention by an expert and a specialized center is needed for immediate recognition and treatment of the disease.

In humans, coagulation factor V (FV) deficiency is a rare, clinically heterogeneous bleeding disorder, suggesting that genetic modifiers may contribute to disease expressivity. Zebrafish possess many distinct advantages including high fecundity, optical clarity, external development, and homology with the mammalian hemostatic system, features that make it ideal for genetic studies. Our aim was to study the role of FV in zebrafish through targeted mutagenesis and apply the model to the study of human F5 variants. CRISPR-mediated genome editing of the zebrafish f5 locus was performed, generating mutants homozygous for a 49 base pair deletion in exon 4. Thrombus formation secondary to vascular endothelial injury was absent in f5^−/− mutant embryos and larvae. Despite this severe hemostatic defect, homozygous mutants survived before succumbing to severe hemorrhage in adulthood. Human F5 variants of uncertain significance from patients with FV deficiency were evaluated, and the causative mutations identified and stratified by their ability to restore thrombus formation in larvae. Analysis of these novel mutations demonstrates variable residual FV function, with minimal activity being required to restore hemostasis in response to laser-induced endothelial injury. This in vivo evaluation may be beneficial for patients whose factor activity levels lack correlation with bleeding symptomatology, although limitations exist. Furthermore, homozygous mutant embryos tolerate what is a severe and lethal defect in mammals, suggesting the possibility of species-specific factors enabling survival, and allowing further study not possible in the mouse. Identification of these factors or other genetic modifiers could lead to novel therapeutic modalities. Key Points f5 mutant fish embryos tolerate symptoms lethal in mammals but succumb to bleeding in adulthood. Analysis of patient F5 variants demonstrate that all have some residual ability to restore hemostasis in response to endothelial injury. Visual Abstract

In humans, coagulation factor V (F5) deficiency is a rare, clinically heterogeneous bleeding disorder, suggesting that genetic modifiers may contribute to disease expressivity. Complete loss of mouse F5 results in early lethality. Zebrafish possess many distinct advantages including high fecundity, optical clarity, external development, and homology with the mammalian hemostatic system, features that make it ideal for genetic studies. Our aim was to study the role of F5 in zebrafish through targeted mutagenesis, and apply the model to the study of human F5 variants. CRISPR-mediated genome editing of the zebrafish f5 locus was performed, generating mutants homozygous for a 49 base pair deletion in exon 4. Thrombus formation secondary to vascular endothelial injury was absent in f5 ^-/- mutant embryos and larvae. Despite this severe hemostatic defect, homozygous mutants survived before succumbing to severe hemorrhage in adulthood. Human F5 variants of uncertain significance from patients with F5 deficiency were evaluated, and the causative mutations identified and stratified by their ability to restore thrombus formation in larvae. Analysis of these novel mutations demonstrates variable residual F5 function, with minimal activity being required to restore hemostasis. This in vivo evaluation may be beneficial for patients whose factor activity levels lack correlation with bleeding symptomatology. Furthermore, homozygous mutant embryos tolerate what is a severe and lethal defect in mammals, suggesting the possibility of species-specific factors enabling survival, and allowing further study not possible in the mouse. Identification of these factors or other genetic modifiers could lead to novel therapeutic modalities. Key Points: F5 mutant fish embryos tolerate symptoms lethal in mammals but succumb to bleeding in adulthood Analysis of human variants demonstrate that all have some residual function and that minimal F5 activity is required to restore hemostasis