Thrombophilia

World Thrombosis Day 10-13-21

In case you missed it, click here for a review of yesterday’s World Thrombosis Day [WTD] activities and materials. “Venous thromboembolism [VTE] is a condition in which a blood clot forms, most often in the deep veins of the leg, groin or arm [deep vein thrombosis, DVT] and travels in the circulation, lodging in the […]

McMaster Update in Thromboembolism

The McMaster University Continuing Professional Development Office is pleased to present the virtual Seventeenth Annual McMaster Update in Thromboembolism, Friday, October 1, 2021. Thank you to Elaine Benoit, Precision BioLogic, for the heads-up.

Webinar: Rare Thrombotic Response to a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine

Please join us for a compelling discussion about the rare, unusual thrombotic events that develop in association with thrombocytopenia approximately one to two weeks after vaccination with a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. This incidence of thrombocytopenia is mediated by platelet-activating antibodies against platelet-factor 4, without any exposure to heparin, and it mimics heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Don’t miss this […]

Thrombosis in VWF and Hemophilia

From Crystal Wilson: Hello George, I am writing to ask if you could help me to understand how, on rare occasions, patients suffering from bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand disease or hemophilia have suffered from hypercoagulable episodes such as pulmonary emboli or deep vein thrombosis. Thanks. Hello, Crystal, I sent your question to several […]

Bleeding Disorders

July, 2021 Quick Question: Covid Inflammatory Cell Results

Our July, 2021 Quick Question was, “Which cell is the main cause of thrombo-inflammation in a COVID-19 infection?” We had 43 respondents to our selections: Endothelial cell: 35% [15] Platelet: 44% [19] Monocyte-macrophage: 12% [5] polymorphonuclear neutrophil: 9% [4] There’s no right answer, as all of these cells are involved in inflammation, however, many who […]

Quick Question Archive

VITT Mechanism Nature Preview

Here is a research article that was rushed to print in the July 7, 2021 Nature that describes the precise pathophysiology of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia [VITT]. VITT is the critical 1/60,000 incidence adverse event associated with the adenoviral vector employed in the Astra-Zeneca and Johnson and Johnson vaccines, among others. VITT resembles heparin-induced thrombocytopenia […]

Platelet Function Testing

July, 2021 Quick Question: Covid Inflammatory Cell

On June 30, 2021, I [Geo] presented “Covid-coag Controversies, What is Immuno-Thrombo-Inflammation” at the Joint Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the Association of Genetic Technologists, and the Society of Armed Forces Medical Laboratory Scientists in Louisville, Kentucky. My handout for the meeting is attached. In follow-up, our July Quick Question […]

New Fundamentals in Hemostasis

Thanks to my colleague Carlo Ledesma, MS, SH(ASCP)QLS, MT(ASCPi), MT(AMT) for pointing me to an in-depth hemostasis review, Versteeg HH, Heemskerk JWM, Levi M, Reitsma PH. New Fundamentals in Hemostasis. Physiol Rev 2013;93:327–58. This is a valuable teaching resource that helps elucidate the cell-based hemostasis model.

Arterial Thrombosis

Mixing Study Limits

From a participant: Can you please help me to understand how to make a cut off value for a correction study so that above this value is corrected and below is not? Please provide an example. Thank you. Hello, and thank you for your question. Please click this link to our educational module, “Improving Acute […]

Bleeding Disorders

bigEndothelin-1

Here is a significant study of a plasma component associated with thrombosis in immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura published by a colleague and friend, Dr. X Long Zheng, an iTTP expert, and his associate, Dr. Nancy Lu: Lu R, Zheng XL. Plasma levels of bigEndothelin-1 are associated with renal insufficiency and in-hospital mortality of immune thrombotic […]

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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.

Cheat Sheets from George

Quick Question