Thrombophilia

COVID-Coag Information

Early in 2021 Fritsma Factor published a narrated 40-minute PowerPoint file named COVID-Coag. While it may seem dated, the presentation links the SARS-Cov19 virus to acute inflammation, platelet activation, DIC, SIC, TMA, TTP, and VITT (recently categorized as “PITT“), insights born of our intense studies of the pandemic. Further, this article appears in the April […]

Agent Orange

This entry was in response to a question from Dennis Brondi: “Hi–I was exposed to Agent Orange and have primary APS (also single parent factor V Leiden). Do you know of any studies establishing causation between AO and APS? My issues have included avascular necrosis of both femoral heads and multiple large DVTs from the […]

Bleeding Disorders

April 2025 QQ Results: Measuring Warfarin in LAC Patients

Our April 2025 Quick Question asked, “How do you measure warfarin in a patient with LAC?” The poll drew 47 respondents and was a sequel to our March 2025 question, “How do you test for lupus anticoagulant?” that referenced the ISTH‘s most recent LAC guideline, Devreese KMJ, Bertolaccini ML, Branch DW, et al. An update […]

Quick Question Archive

Thrombophilia Testing Summary

Click here for a 2025 summary of thrombophilia testing published by the Anticoagulation Forum.

Heparin Resistance in Pancreatitis: Case Report

Click Rongqin D, Zhexin B, Yuzhi L, et al. Heparin resistance in a patient with severe acute pancreatitis: a case report. Lab Med. 2025: lmae126. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmae126 to access a pre-pub that illustrates a mechanism for heparin resistance in the presence of a normal AT level. Thanks to Margaret G. Fritsma; MA, MLS, SBB for the […]

April 2025 Quick Question: How to Measure Warfarin in a LAC Patient

Our April 2025 Quick Question is a poll that asks, “How do you measure warfarin in a patient with lupus anticoagulant (LAC)?” This question is a sequel to our March 2025 question, “How do you test for lupus anticoagulant?” that references the ISTH‘s most recent LAC guidelines, Devreese KMJ, Bertolaccini ML, Branch DW, et al. […]

Lupus Anticoagulant

March 2025 Quick Question: LAC Testing Outcome

Our March 2025 Quick Question asked, “How do you test for lupus anticoagulant?” The question drew 38 responses. DRVVT Screen/Confirm only: 4 (11%) PTT Screen/Confirm only: 2 (5%) First DRVVT S/C then PTT S/C if pos: 1 (3%) First PTT S/C then DRVVT S/C if pos: 3 (7%) Both DRVVT S/C & PTT S/C: 27 […]

Lupus Anticoagulant

Caplacizumab Immune-mediated TTP Clinical Efficacy Report

Thanks to colleague X. Long Zheng, MD, for his LinkedIn heads-up announcing the 31 March 2025 eClinicalMedicine release of Caplacizumab use in immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: an international multicentre retrospective Cohort study (The Capla 1000+ project). This pivotal open-access article compares patient mortality rate and the response rate to caplacizumab (Cablivi®) to standard care.

March 2025 Quick Question: LAC Testing

The March 2025 QQ is now available to answer, it is a poll to learn how we perform lupus anticoagulant testing. If you have an alternative, please answer in the Comments section below.

Elevated Protein C and Protein S

This question arrived on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from Soha Abuelela: “I have a protein C level above 150% and a protein S level above 200%. What is the interference and significance?” We assay for protein C and protein S deficiency when a person has experienced an unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE, clotting) event such as […]

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George Fritsma is a medical laboratory scientist, educator, and author. George is a member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, the International Society for Laboratory Hematology, and the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.

Cheat Sheets from George

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