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Objective.To assess thrombin generation, fibrin formation, and structure together with the fibrinolytic status in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in relation to the occurrence of digital ulcers (DUs) during the course of disease.Methods.We studied variables of endothelial dysfunction, thrombin generation, overall hemostatic potential, and fibrin clot turbidity in plasma from 58 patients with SSc (39 with DU history and 19 DU-nai¨ve) and 46 matched healthy controls (HCs). Fibrin structure was visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, 39 patients with a history of DUs were followed for 1.5 years and the predictive value of all investigated markers for new DU onset was explored.Results.Significantly enhanced endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) and prolonged clot lysis time (CLT) were found in patients with DUs compared to HCs. CLT was prolonged in patients with DUs compared to those without, showing good validity in identifying DUs with an area under the curve of 0.7 (95% CI 0.6–0.8). The levels of ETP and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were independently associated with CLT. Over the follow-up period, 20 patients developed new DUs. CLT was prolonged (P< 0.001) in patients with new DU episodes, especially those with recurrent DUs. Regression analysis showed that the Raynaud phenomenon visual analog scale and CLT were predictors of new DUs (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.0–1.1 and OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.3, respectively). SEM confirmed denser fibrin clots in patients with new DUs.Conclusion.Our results suggest that impaired fibrinolysis might have an emerging role in underlying digital vasculopathy and its progression in SSc.

ObjectivePulmonary embolism is usually considered as a complication of deep vein thrombosis, but there are still a number of cases of isolated pulmonary embolism. We aimed to investigate whether prothrombin 3’ end gene variants might play a signifi cant role in the pathogenesis of isolated pulmonary embolism.Methods and resultsIn this study 100 patients with isolated pulmonary embolism and 100 controls were screened by DNA sequencing. Screening included last intron, last exon, 3’UTR and part of the 3’FR region of the prothrombin gene. Our results have shown that heterozygous carriers of the FII G20210A variant have a signifi cantly higher risk of isolated pulmonary embolism (OR 4.83; 95%CI 1.33-17.52; P= 0.02). Carriers of the FII 19911GG genotype (OR 1.41; 95%CI 0.72-2.73; P= 0.31) and FII 20068CT genotype (OR 3.06; 95%CI 0.31-29.95; P= 0.34) were more frequent in patients with isolated pulmonary embolism compared to controls. We also detected the novel gene variants, FIIc.*64_*66del and FII c.*303T>C, in two patients.ConclusionsOur results suggest that FII G20210A represents a signifi cant risk factor for isolated pulmonary embolism. The FII G19911A and FII C20068T are potentially associated with an increased risk for the occurrence of isolated pulmonary embolism, but the results did not reach statistical signifi cance. This is the fi rst study in which the two novel 3’ end prothrombin gene variants, FIIc.*64_*66del and FII c.*303T>C, were reported.

Chaireti: Shire: Research Funding. Antovic:NovoNordisk: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Shire: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sobi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CSL Behring: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Werfen: Honoraria; Stago: Honoraria; Siemens: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Sysmex: Honoraria.

Development of inhibitors to Factor VIII is a serious and not uncommon (occurs in about 30% of treated patients) complication of the treatment with factor concentrate in hemophilia A. Treatment of patients with inhibitors is complicated, expensive and not always successful. By-pass agents (rFVIIa and aPCC) have been considered as a treatment of choice for those patients. Very recently bispecific factor IXa- and factor X-directed antibody - Emicizumab has been approved for the treatment of hemophilia A patients with inhibitors. However, there are data from the clinical studies which raise concerns about potential prothrombotic effect of Emicizumab in combination with by-pass agents particularly aPCC.