Bleeding Disorders

Factor X Deficiency Molecular Test

From Michele Drejka, Barnabas Health: Hi George, We recently saw a patient who is a 72 year old man with factor X activity of 8%, with no significant bleeding history. The incubated mixing study of both PT/PTT corrected without prolongation. The physician would like to have a genetic study done. Do you know of a […]

Bleeding Disorders

ADAMTS13 Method

From Donna Lawler, University of Wisconsin, Hi George. We are investigating the possibility of bringing an assay for ADAMTS 13 activity in house. We are looking at the two methods available (ELISA and FRET) and I am wondering what your experience is with either of these assays. I would love to hear from anyone that […]

Bleeding Disorders

A VWD Treatment Oddity

A colleague told George about what seems like an unusual subtype 2A von Willebrand disease case. When treating with Humate P, the VWF antigen (VWF:Ag) level rises as expected, however the VWF ristocetin cofactor (VWF:RCo) activity level consistently hovers at 20–30%. Those are all the facts available. Could this be a VWF inhibitor specific for […]

Bleeding Disorders

Genes Associated with Bleeding Caused by Thrombocytopenia

Set in by Prof. Dan Southern Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have found genes associated with an autoimmune bleeding disorder called chronic immune thrombocytopenia, or ITP. Dr. Jenny Despotovic, assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor and Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers, presented the research Dec. 5 at the American Society of Hematology 57th […]

Bleeding Disorders

Commentary on the VWF Case

From Dr. Emmanuel Favaloro: “I noted the September 30 post with the interesting case study on VWD. I was honoured to be asked to write a commentary on same. Not that I want to steal Kristi’s thunder, but in the interests of equity, etc, and because one of our last cases was similarly interesting, I thought your […]

Bleeding Disorders

VWD Case Study

George just received permission from author Kristi Smock, MD to post a link to this excellent July Am J Clin Chem case study on von Willebrand disease.

Bleeding Disorders

TIC Presentation

Thanks to everyone who attended my presentation, “Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy” on Friday, June 19 on the Auburn University at Montgomery campus, and thanks to Kathy Jones and the organizers for the invitation. As promised, the handout for my presentation is now available on my previous post.

Bleeding Disorders

Trauma-Induced Coagulopathy 6-19-15

George presents “Trauma-induced Coagulopathy with Massive Transfusion Protocol” Friday, June 19, 2015, 12:45–1:45 at the annual Robert B. Adams Foundation symposium on the Auburn University at Montgomery Campus. The handout for this presentation is available here as a 2-per-page handout, suitable for your phone. computor or tablet. For information on the one-day symposium, contact Kathy […]

Bleeding Disorders

Vitamin K at Birth

Although the US Department of Health has recommended vitamin K supplementation at birth since 1961, the incidence of infant hemorrhage is rising as the number of parents who refuse vitamin K rises. This issue is addressed in a June 18, 2014 St. Louis Post-Dispatch article and is documented in Schulte R, Jordan LC, Morad A, […]

Bleeding Disorders

Rare Bleeding Disorders

I thank Marisa Marques, MD, Professor, Pathology Department, University of Alabama at Birmingham, for introducing me to a concise review article, Palla R, Peyvandi F, Shapiro AD. Rare bleeding disorders” diagnosis and treatment. Blood 2015;125:2052–61, available free from The American Society of Hematology. The article answers many questions about the rare deficiencies of factors II, […]

Bleeding Disorders

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George holds faculty appointments with Rutgers University and Michigan State University, and is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, American Association of Clinical Chemists, and American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

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