Background: Bernard Soulier Syndrome (BSS) is a rare, autosomal recessive inheritance disorder of platelet function. Estimated to affect one per one million, there are currently only 200 cases reported worldwide presenting more commonly in families with parental consanguinity. This syndrome occurs when there is a genetic defect in the subunits (GPIb-alpha, GPIB-beta, and GP9) that form the GPIb-IX-V complex. The result is inadequate binding to von Willebrand factor. The clotting cascade is, therefore, unable to begin, causing symptoms of excessive and prolonged bleeding. Objectives: We report a case with multiple episodes of exaggerated bleeding and easy bruising. Methods: We analyzed complete blood count, coagulation studies, platelet aggregation assays, platelet glycoprotein expression by flow cytometry, as well as screened both patient and parents for relevant genes responsible for BSS. Results: 14-month-old Caucasian male born at 38w3d gestational age, non-consanguineous parents with multiple episodes of exaggerated bleeding and easy bruising from minor injuries. His symptoms started early in life with excessive bleeding after circumcision. No history of intramuscular, joint, or intracranial bleeding. Complete blood counts showed macrothrombocytopenia (98 X109 /L MPV 12.3 fl) no leukocyte inclusion bodies on peripheral smear. Coagulation tests (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, vWF antigen, and vW-Ristocetin cofactor activity, platelet function assay) were normal. Platelet glycoprotein expression by flow cytometry revealed significantly reduced binding of monoclonal antibodies to platelet GPIb and normal GPIIb/IIIa. Comprehensive platelet disorder panel revealed two clinically significant variants missense mutations in the GP9 gene (P.Cys135 Tyr and P.Asn61Ser) These variants were on opposite alleles and results were consistent with the diagnosis of Bernard Soulier syndrome (BSS). The mother reported heavy menstrual cycles, the father had no significant bleeding symptoms, and both parents had normal platelet counts. Target genetic testing identified these two distinct missense mutations from both Mother and Father of the child. Conclusion: The two rare variants occurring on the gene for GPIX (GP9) increase the number of known genetic defects associated with the manifestation of Bernard Soulier Syndrome.

A uremia é uma desordem sistêmica que pode estar associada à disfunção plaquetária adquirida, levando a alterações na hemostasia primária. Vários modelos de interferência entre a uremia e a falha na hemostasia já foram propostos, porém o mecanismo exato é desconhecido, e a tendência ao sangramento parece ser de origem multifatorial. O teste do tempo de sangramento da mucosa oral (TSMO) pode ser utilizado na avaliação da hemostasia primária em animais. O fator de von Willebrand (FvW:Ag) normal ou aumentado, observado na maioria dos cães urêmicos, contribui para o diagnóstico de uma alteração plaquetária adquirida. A contagem de plaquetas e os testes de coagulação normais associados a um aumento no TSMO dão suporte à suspeita de um defeito qualitativo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar possíveis anormalidades na hemostasia, buscando estabelecer uma relação entre os resultados de exames laboratoriais e alterações no tempo de sangramento. A hemostasia foi avaliada em quarenta cães azotêmicos, urêmicos ou não. O aumento no TSMO foi observado em 35% dos cães azotêmicos. O teste de Spearman demonstrou haver correlação entre o TSMO e os valores de creatinina, uréia e hematócrito, porém, o ajuste pela Regressão Linear Múltipla evidenciou o hematócrito como única variável associada com o TSMO. Valores de hematócrito abaixo do intervalo de referência para a espécie foram observados em 92,86% dos pacientes que apresentaram aumento no TSMO. Esses valores reduzidos parecem contribuir para a tendência ao sangramento, embora não possam ser considerados como fator determinante preditivo, uma vez que sua ocorrência nem sempre se associou com interferências no TSMO. / Uremia is a systemic disorder that may be associated with acquired platelet dysfunction, leading to changes in primary hemostasis. Several interference models between uremia and hemostasis failure have been proposed, but the exact mechanism is unknown, and bleeding tendencies seem to have a multifactorial origin. The buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) test can be used in the assessment of primary hemostasis in animals. Normal or increased von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag), observed in most uremic dogs, contributes to the diagnosis of an acquired platelet alteration. Normal platelet counts and coagulation tests associated with BMBT raises support the suspicion of a qualitative defect. The aim of this study was to investigate possible hemostasis abnormalities, trying to establish a relation between the results of laboratory tests and changes in bleeding times. Hemostasis was evaluated in forty azotemic dogs, uremic or not. Increase in BMBTs was observed in 35% of the azotemic dogs. Spearman’s test showed a correlation between BMBT and the values of creatinine, urea and hematocrit; however, adjusting for Multiple Linear Regression showed hematocrit as the only variable associated with BMBT. Hematocrit values below reference range for the species was observed in 92,86% of the patients showed an increase in BMBT. These low values appear to contribute to the tendency to bleed, although they cannot be considered as a preditive determining factor, since their occurrence is not always associated with interference in BMBT.

A uremia é uma desordem sistêmica que pode estar associada à disfunção plaquetária adquirida, levando a alterações na hemostasia primária. Vários modelos de interferência entre a uremia e a falha na hemostasia já foram propostos, porém o mecanismo exato é desconhecido, e a tendência ao sangramento parece ser de origem multifatorial. O teste do tempo de sangramento da mucosa oral (TSMO) pode ser utilizado na avaliação da hemostasia primária em animais. O fator de von Willebrand (FvW:Ag) normal ou aumentado, observado na maioria dos cães urêmicos, contribui para o diagnóstico de uma alteração plaquetária adquirida. A contagem de plaquetas e os testes de coagulação normais associados a um aumento no TSMO dão suporte à suspeita de um defeito qualitativo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar possíveis anormalidades na hemostasia, buscando estabelecer uma relação entre os resultados de exames laboratoriais e alterações no tempo de sangramento. A hemostasia foi avaliada em quarenta cães azotêmicos, urêmicos ou não. O aumento no TSMO foi observado em 35% dos cães azotêmicos. O teste de Spearman demonstrou haver correlação entre o TSMO e os valores de creatinina, uréia e hematócrito, porém, o ajuste pela Regressão Linear Múltipla evidenciou o hematócrito como única variável associada com o TSMO. Valores de hematócrito abaixo do intervalo de referência para a espécie foram observados em 92,86% dos pacientes que apresentaram aumento no TSMO. Esses valores reduzidos parecem contribuir para a tendência ao sangramento, embora não possam ser considerados como fator determinante preditivo, uma vez que sua ocorrência nem sempre se associou com interferências no TSMO. / Uremia is a systemic disorder that may be associated with acquired platelet dysfunction, leading to changes in primary hemostasis. Several interference models between uremia and hemostasis failure have been proposed, but the exact mechanism is unknown, and bleeding tendencies seem to have a multifactorial origin. The buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) test can be used in the assessment of primary hemostasis in animals. Normal or increased von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag), observed in most uremic dogs, contributes to the diagnosis of an acquired platelet alteration. Normal platelet counts and coagulation tests associated with BMBT raises support the suspicion of a qualitative defect. The aim of this study was to investigate possible hemostasis abnormalities, trying to establish a relation between the results of laboratory tests and changes in bleeding times. Hemostasis was evaluated in forty azotemic dogs, uremic or not. Increase in BMBTs was observed in 35% of the azotemic dogs. Spearman’s test showed a correlation between BMBT and the values of creatinine, urea and hematocrit; however, adjusting for Multiple Linear Regression showed hematocrit as the only variable associated with BMBT. Hematocrit values below reference range for the species was observed in 92,86% of the patients showed an increase in BMBT. These low values appear to contribute to the tendency to bleed, although they cannot be considered as a preditive determining factor, since their occurrence is not always associated with interference in BMBT.

A uremia é uma desordem sistêmica que pode estar associada à disfunção plaquetária adquirida, levando a alterações na hemostasia primária. Vários modelos de interferência entre a uremia e a falha na hemostasia já foram propostos, porém o mecanismo exato é desconhecido, e a tendência ao sangramento parece ser de origem multifatorial. O teste do tempo de sangramento da mucosa oral (TSMO) pode ser utilizado na avaliação da hemostasia primária em animais. O fator de von Willebrand (FvW:Ag) normal ou aumentado, observado na maioria dos cães urêmicos, contribui para o diagnóstico de uma alteração plaquetária adquirida. A contagem de plaquetas e os testes de coagulação normais associados a um aumento no TSMO dão suporte à suspeita de um defeito qualitativo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar possíveis anormalidades na hemostasia, buscando estabelecer uma relação entre os resultados de exames laboratoriais e alterações no tempo de sangramento. A hemostasia foi avaliada em quarenta cães azotêmicos, urêmicos ou não. O aumento no TSMO foi observado em 35% dos cães azotêmicos. O teste de Spearman demonstrou haver correlação entre o TSMO e os valores de creatinina, uréia e hematócrito, porém, o ajuste pela Regressão Linear Múltipla evidenciou o hematócrito como única variável associada com o TSMO. Valores de hematócrito abaixo do intervalo de referência para a espécie foram observados em 92,86% dos pacientes que apresentaram aumento no TSMO. Esses valores reduzidos parecem contribuir para a tendência ao sangramento, embora não possam ser considerados como fator determinante preditivo, uma vez que sua ocorrência nem sempre se associou com interferências no TSMO. / Uremia is a systemic disorder that may be associated with acquired platelet dysfunction, leading to changes in primary hemostasis. Several interference models between uremia and hemostasis failure have been proposed, but the exact mechanism is unknown, and bleeding tendencies seem to have a multifactorial origin. The buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) test can be used in the assessment of primary hemostasis in animals. Normal or increased von Willebrand factor (vWF:Ag), observed in most uremic dogs, contributes to the diagnosis of an acquired platelet alteration. Normal platelet counts and coagulation tests associated with BMBT raises support the suspicion of a qualitative defect. The aim of this study was to investigate possible hemostasis abnormalities, trying to establish a relation between the results of laboratory tests and changes in bleeding times. Hemostasis was evaluated in forty azotemic dogs, uremic or not. Increase in BMBTs was observed in 35% of the azotemic dogs. Spearman’s test showed a correlation between BMBT and the values of creatinine, urea and hematocrit; however, adjusting for Multiple Linear Regression showed hematocrit as the only variable associated with BMBT. Hematocrit values below reference range for the species was observed in 92,86% of the patients showed an increase in BMBT. These low values appear to contribute to the tendency to bleed, although they cannot be considered as a preditive determining factor, since their occurrence is not always associated with interference in BMBT.

Non-surgical bleeding (NSB) is one of the major clinical complications in patients under continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. The increased shear stress leads to an altered platelet receptor composition. Whether these changes increase the risk for NSB is unclear. Thus, we compared the platelet receptor composition of patients with (bleeder group, n = 18) and without NSB (non-bleeder group, n = 18) prior to LVAD implantation. Blood samples were obtained prior to LVAD implantation and after bleeding complications in the post-implant period. Platelet receptor expression of GPIbα, GPIIb/IIIa, P-selectin and CD63 as well as intra-platelet oxidative stress levels were quantified by flow cytometry. Bleeders and non-bleeders were comparable regarding clinical characteristics, von Willebrand factor diagnostics and the aggregation capacity before and after LVAD implantation (p > 0.05). LVAD patients in the bleeder group suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding (33%; n = 6), epistaxis (22%; n = 4), hematuria or hematoma (17%; n = 3, respectively) and cerebral bleeding (11%; n = 2). Prior to LVAD implantation, a restricted surface expression of the platelet receptors P-selectin and GPIIb/IIIa was observed in the bleeder group (P-selectin: 7.2 ± 2.6%; GPIIb/IIIa: 26,900 ± 13,608 U) compared to non-bleeders (P-selectin: 12.4 ± 8.1%, p = 0.02; GPIIb/IIIa: 36,259 ± 9914 U; p = 0.02). We hypothesized that the reduced platelet receptor expression of P-selectin and GPIIb/IIIa prior to LVAD implantation may be linked to LVAD-related NSB.

Non-surgical bleeding (NSB) is one of the major clinical complications in patients under continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. The increased shear stress leads to an altered platelet receptor composition. Whether these changes increase the risk for NSB is unclear. Thus, we compared the platelet receptor composition of patients with (bleeder group, n = 18) and without NSB (non-bleeder group, n = 18) prior to LVAD implantation. Blood samples were obtained prior to LVAD implantation and after bleeding complications in the post-implant period. Platelet receptor expression of GPIbα, GPIIb/IIIa, P-selectin and CD63 as well as intra-platelet oxidative stress levels were quantified by flow cytometry. Bleeders and non-bleeders were comparable regarding clinical characteristics, von Willebrand factor diagnostics and the aggregation capacity before and after LVAD implantation (p > 0.05). LVAD patients in the bleeder group suffered from gastrointestinal bleeding (33%; n = 6), epistaxis (22%; n = 4), hematuria or hematoma (17%; n = 3, respectively) and cerebral bleeding (11%; n = 2). Prior to LVAD implantation, a restricted surface expression of the platelet receptors P-selectin and GPIIb/IIIa was observed in the bleeder group (P-selectin: 7.2 ± 2.6%; GPIIb/IIIa: 26,900 ± 13,608 U) compared to non-bleeders (P-selectin: 12.4 ± 8.1%, p = 0.02; GPIIb/IIIa: 36,259 ± 9914 U; p = 0.02). We hypothesized that the reduced platelet receptor expression of P-selectin and GPIIb/IIIa prior to LVAD implantation may be linked to LVAD-related NSB.