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Very few data exist on when a particular thrombopoietin-receptor agonist (TPO-RA) is favored in clinical practice for the treatment of patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), about novel risk factors for vascular events (VE) with these drugs, nor about predictive factors for therapy free responses (TFR). We conducted an observational, retrospective, long-term follow-up multicenter study from November 2016 to January 2018 of 121 adult ITP patients initiating TPO-RA between January 2012 to December 2014. Data reflected that a platelet count ≤25 × 109/l at the time when the TPO-RA was initiated was associated with a 2.8 higher probability of receiving romiplostim vs. eltrombopag (P = 0.010). VE on TPO-RA was related to previous neoplasia in patients over 65 years (50% vs. 2.2%, P vs. 33%, P = 0.001). Receiving romiplostim as first TPO-RA with no subsequent TPO-RA switching was associated with a 50% likelihood of TFR after 2.9 years of therapy (3.3 years in chronic ITP patients). These real-world data help deciphering some areas of uncertainty, and offer insight into some of the most relevant challenges of ITP which may help clinicians make appropriate treatment decisions in the management of adult ITP patients with TPO-RA.

During platelet activation, arachidonic acid (AA) is released from membrane phospholipids and metabolized to thromboxane A2 (TXA2) through the actions of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and TXA2 synthase. Note, TXA2 binds to the platelet TXA2 receptor, causing shape change, secretion and platelet aggregation.1 Also, COX-1 (599aa; 70 kDa) has cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities and it is functionally active as a homodimer, with each COX-1 monomer consisting of four highly conserved domains: an N-terminal signal peptide, a dimerization domain, a membrane-binding domain (MBD) and a large C-terminal catalytic domain2 (Figure 1A). Irreversible COX-1 inhibition by aspirin is a widely established anti-platelet therapy in cardiovascular disease., Fundación Mutua Madrileña, Grant/Award Number: AP172142019; Fundación Séneca, Grant/Award Number: 19873/GERM/15; Gerencia Regional de Salud, Grant/Award Numbers: 1647/A/17, 2061A/19; Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) & Feder, Grant/Award Numbers: CB15/00055, PI17/01966, PI18/00598, PI20/00926, PI17/01311; Junta de Castilla y León; British Heart Foundation, Grant/Award Number: PG/17/40/33028; Ayuda a Grupos de Trabajo en Patología Hemorrágica; Premio López Borrasca 2019; Sociedad Española de Trombosis y Hemostasia.

The effect of fundamental rights in private relationships is a controversial question not only within Member States, but also with regard to rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Recent ECJ Judgments have been read as adopting a stance in favour of recognizing horizontal direct effect to certain rights. This paper addresses the issue based on the understanding of fundamental rights as principles that impose upon public authorities an optimization command. This comprehension of fundamental rights is crucial to explain the need of a legislative intervention in order to ensure their enforceability in private relationships and, therefore, to conclude that the rights enshrined in the Charter do not have horizontal direct effect. Only exceptionally certain fundamental rights do not require this intervention because they are defined as such in the private sphere, and thus within the scope of private relationships. The same applies for human dignity, which is directly enforceable in private relationships since it is inextricable tied to the essence of human beings. As we will show, this view is consistent with the EU legislative action and ECJ case law.

[Background]: Ten years after their availability, thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) have heralded a paradigm shift in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This study was aimed to analyze the implementation of current recommendations in the standard practice of adult ITP patients, and how age may influence those changes., [Methods]: We included 121 adult patients (> 65 years, n = 54; younger individuals, n = 67) who initiated treatment with TPO-RA between January 2012 and December 2014., [Results]: Patients older than 65 years treated with TPO-RA presented at diagnosis with significantly higher platelet counts, less bleeding, and a more prothrombotic profile than younger ones. The high efficacy rates of TPO-RA, preferentially used during the last decade in non-chronic phases, precluded from further therapies in the majority of ITP patients. Their administration was associated with a sharp decline in the last decade in the use of splenectomy and intravenous immunoglobulin, especially in younger ITP individuals., [Conclusion]: These results confirm (1) that there is a preferential use of TPO-RAs in elderly ITP patients with fewer bleeding complications but more unfavorable prothrombotic conditions than in younger individuals, and (2) that early use of these agents has been established as an effective therapeutic alternative to other second line therapies., This work was supported by Amgen S.A. Spain.

Objective— Here, we provide evidence for the role of FLNA (filamin A) in the modulation of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). Approach and Results— SOCE is a major mechanism for calcium influx controlled by the intracellular Ca 2+ stores. On store depletion, the endoplasmic reticulum calcium sensor STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1) redistributes into puncta at endoplasmic reticulum/plasma membrane junctions, a process supported by the cytoskeleton, where it interacts with the calcium channels; however, the mechanism for fine-tuning SOCE is not completely understood. Our results demonstrate that STIM1 interacts with FLNA on calcium store depletion in human platelets. The interaction is dependent on the phosphorylation of FLNA at Ser 2152 by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Impairment of FLNA phosphorylation and knockdown of FLNA expression using siRNA increased SOCE in platelets. Similarly, SOCE was significantly greater in FLNA-deficient melanoma M2 cells than in the FLNA-expressing M2 subclone A7. Expression of FLNA in M2 cells attenuated SOCE, an effect prevented when the cells were transfected with the nonphosphorylatable FLNA S2152A mutant. Transfection of M2 cells with the STIM1(K684,685E) mutant reduced the STIM1–FLNA interaction. In platelets, attenuation of FLNA expression using siRNA resulted in enhanced association of STIM1 with the cytoskeleton, greater STIM1–Orai1 interaction, and SOCE. Introduction of an anti-FLNA (2597–2647) antibody attenuated the STIM1–FLNA interaction and enhanced thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Conclusions— Our results indicate that FLNA modulates SOCE and then the correct platelet function, by fine-tuning the distribution of STIM1 in the cytoskeleton and the interaction with Orai1 channels.

Background: Careful assessment of bleeding history is the first step in the evaluation of patients with mild/moderate bleeding disorders, and the use of a bleeding assessment tool (BAT) is strongly encouraged. Although a few studies have assessed the utility of the ISTH-BAT in patients with inherited platelet function disorders (IPFD) none of them was sufficiently large to draw conclusions and/or included appropriate control groups. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to test the utility of the ISTH-BAT in a large cohort of patients with a well-defined diagnosis of inherited platelets disorder in comparison with two parallel cohorts, one of patients with type-1 von Willebrand disease (VWD-1) and one of healthy controls (HC). Patients/Methods: We enrolled 1098 subjects, 482 of whom had inherited platelet disorders (196 IPFD and 286 inherited platelet number disorders [IT]) from 17 countries. Results: IPFD patients had significantly higher bleeding score (BS; median 9) than VWD-1 patients (median 5), a higher number of hemorrhagic symptoms (4 versus 3), and higher percentage of patients with clinically relevant symptoms (score > 2). The ISTH-BAT showed excellent discrimination power between IPFD and HC (0.9

Inherited platelet disorders are a heterogeneous group of rare diseases, caused by inherited defects in platelet production and/or function. Their genetic diagnosis would benefit clinical care, prognosis and preventative treatments. Until recently, this diagnosis has usually been performed via Sanger sequencing of a limited number of candidate genes. High-throughput sequencing is revolutionizing the genetic diagnosis of diseases, including bleeding disorders. We have designed a novel high-throughput sequencing platform to investigate the unknown molecular pathology in a cohort of 82 patients with inherited platelet disorders. Thirty-four (41.5%) patients presented with a phenotype strongly indicative of a particular type of platelet disorder. The other patients had clinical bleeding indicative of platelet dysfunction, but with no identifiable features. The high-throughput sequencing test enabled a molecular diagnosis in 70% of these patients. This sensitivity increased to 90% among patients suspected of having a defined platelet disorder. We found 57 different candidate variants in 28 genes, of which 70% had not previously been described. Following consensus guidelines, we qualified 68.4% and 26.3% of the candidate variants as being pathogenic and likely pathogenic, respectively. In addition to establishing definitive diagnoses of well-known inherited platelet disorders, high-throughput sequencing also identified rarer disorders such as sitosterolemia, filamin and actinin deficiencies, and G protein-coupled receptor defects. This included disease-causing variants in DIAPH1 (n=2) and RASGRP2 (n=3). Our study reinforces the feasibility of introducing high-throughput sequencing technology into the mainstream laboratory for the genetic diagnostic practice in inherited platelet disorders., This study was supported by research grants from the Gerencia Regional de Salud (GRS 1370/A/16), ISCIII & Feder (PI14/01956), CIBERER CB15/00055, Fundación Séneca (19873/GERM/15) and Sociedad Española de Trombosis y Hemostasia (SETH). SPW holds a British Heart Foundation chair.

The clinical diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD), particularly type 1, can be complex because several genetic and environmental factors affect von Willebrand factor (VWF) plasma levels. An estimated 60% of the phenotypic variation is attributable to hereditary factors, with the ABO blood group locus being the most influential. However, recent studies provide strong evidence that nonsynonymous single nucleotide variants (SNVs) contribute to VWF and factor VIII phenotypic variability in healthy individuals. This study aims to investigate the role of common VWF SNVs on VWD phenotype by analyzing data from 219 unrelated patients included in the “Molecular and Clinical Profile of von Willebrand Disease in Spain project.” To that end, generalized linear mixed-effects regression models were fitted, and additive and epistatic analyses, and haplotype studies were performed, considering five VWD-related measures (bleeding score, VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo, factor VIII:C, and VWF:CB). According to these analyses, homozygotes: for p.Thr789Ala(C) would be expected to show 39% higher VWF:Ag levels; p.Thr1381Ala(C), 27% lower VWF:Ag levels; and p.Gln852Arg(C), 52% lower VWF:RCo levels. Homozygotes for both p.Thr789Ala(C) and p.Gln852Arg(T) were predicted to show 185% higher VWF:CB activity, and carriers of two copies of the p.Thr1381Ala(T)/p.Gln852Arg(T) haplotype would present a 100% increase in VWF:RCo activity. These results indicate a substantial effect of common VWF variation on VWD phenotype. Although additional studies are needed to determine the true magnitude of the effects of SNVs on VWF, these findings provide new evidence regarding the contribution of common variants to VWD, which should be taken into account to enhance the accuracy of the diagnosis and classification of this condition. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02869074.

[Introduction]: Molecular testing of Inherited bleeding coagulation disorders (IBCDs) not only offers confirmation of diagnosis but also aids in genetic counselling, prenatal diagnosis and in certain cases genotype–phenotype correlations are important for predicting the clinical course of the disease and to allow tailor-made follow-up of individuals. Until recently, genotyping has been mainly performed by Sanger sequencing, a technique known to be time consuming and expensive. Currently, next-generation sequencing (NGS) offers a new potential approach that enables the simultaneous investigation of multiple genes at manageable cost. [Aim]: The aim of this study was to design and to analyse the applicability of a 23-gene NGS panel in the molecular diagnosis of patients with IBCDs. [Methods]: A custom target enrichment library was designed to capture 31 genes known to be associated with IBCDs. Probes were generated for 296 targets to cover 86.3 kb regions (all exons and flanking regions) of these genes. Twenty patients with an IBCDs phenotype were studied using NGS technology. [Results]: In all patients, our NGS approach detected causative mutations. Twenty-one pathogenic variants were found; while most of them were missense (18), three deletions were also identified. Six novel mutations affecting F8, FGA, F11, F10 and VWF genes, and 15 previously reported variants were detected. NGS and Sanger sequencing were 100% concordant. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that this approach could be an accurate, reproducible and reliable tool in the rapid genetic diagnosis of IBCDs.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare inherited platelet disorder characterized by bleeding diathesis, oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and a myriad of often-serious clinical complications. We established the clinical and laboratory phenotype and genotype of six unrelated pedigrees comprising ten patients with clinical suspicion of HPS; including platelet aggregation, flow cytometry, platelet dense granule content, electron microscopy and high-throughput sequencing (HTS). The clinical presentation showed significant heterogeneity and no clear phenotype-genotype correlations. HTS revealed two known and three novel disease-causing variants. The Spanish patients carried a homozygous p.Pro685Leufs17* deletion (n = 2) in HPS4, or the novel p.Arg822* homozygous variant (n = 1) in HPS3. In the case of two Turkish sisters, a novel missense homozygous HPS4 variant (p.Leu91Pro) was found. In two Portuguese families, genetic studies confirmed a previously reported nonsense variant (p.Gln103*) in DTNBP1 in three patients and a novel duplication (p.Leu22Argfs*33) in HPS6 in two unrelated patients. Our findings expand the mutational spectrum of HPS, which may help in investigating phenotype-genotype relationships and assist genetic counselling for affected individuals. This approach is a proof of principle that HTS can be considered and used in the first-line diagnosis of patients with biological and clinical manifestations suggestive of HPS.Key messagesWe established the relationships between the clinical and laboratory phenotype and genotype of six unrelated pedigrees comprising ten patients with clinical suspicion of HPS.Molecular analysis is useful in confirming the diagnosis and may offer some prognostic information that will aid in optimizing monitoring and surveillance for early detection of end-organ damage.This approach is a proof of principle that HTS can be considered and used in the first-line diagnosis of patients with biological and clinical manifestations suggestive of HPS. We established the relationships between the clinical and laboratory phenotype and genotype of six unrelated pedigrees comprising ten patients with clinical suspicion of HPS. Molecular analysis is useful in confirming the diagnosis and may offer some prognostic information that will aid in optimizing monitoring and surveillance for early detection of end-organ damage. This approach is a proof of principle that HTS can be considered and used in the first-line diagnosis of patients with biological and clinical manifestations suggestive of HPS.

Aim The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK-US) following protocols for haemophilic arthropathy and the Haemophilia Early Arthropathy Detection with Ultrasound (HEAD-US) score can help standardize monitoring in haemophilia. This study evaluated the joint status (elbows, knees and ankles) of patients with haemophilia B (HB) in Spain using MSK-US and the HEAD-US score. Methods Haemophilia B patients ≥14 years old were included in this observational, multicentre, cross-sectional study, regardless of their clinical condition, HB severity and treatment received. Two blinded observers were involved in image acquisition and scoring in each centre. Results Eighty-two patients from 12 centres were enrolled: 27% mild HB, 23% moderate, 50% severe HB. Mean age was 38.9 ± 16.4 years, 60% were treated on demand (OD) and 40% were on prophylaxis. HEAD-US was zero in all joints in 28.6% OD patients and 36.4% on prophylaxis. Mean scores significantly worsened with HB severity, except for the left knee. Patients on primary and secondary prophylaxis had significantly better joint health vs OD patients in all joints, except the right ankle. Among OD patients, those with severe disease presented significantly worse scores in all HEAD-US items related to permanent damage. Conclusion Joint status of HB patients in Spain is influenced by severity and treatment modality, related to the development of arthropathy, which appears prevalent in OD patients with severe HB. Routine assessment with an imaging tool such as ultrasound and HEAD-US system may help to improve joint health by personalizing and adjusting treatment in this population.

Stanniocalcin 2 (STC2) is a fish protein that controls body Ca2+ and phosphate metabolism. STC2 has also been described in mammals, and as platelet function highly depends on both extracellular and intracellular Ca2+, we have explored its expression and function in these cells. STC2−/− mice exhibit shorter tail bleeding time than WT mice. Platelets from STC2-deficient mice showed enhanced aggregation, as well as enhanced Ca2+ mobilization in response to the physiological agonist thrombin (Thr) and the diacylglycerol analog, OAG, a selective activator of the non-capacitative Ca2+ entry channels. Interestingly, platelets from STC2−/− mice exhibit attenuated interaction between STIM1 and Orai1 in response to Thr, thus suggesting that STC2 is required for Thr-evoked STIM1-Orai1 interaction and the subsequent store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE). We have further assessed possible changes in the expression of the most relevant channels involved in non-capacitative Ca2+ entry in platelets. Then, protein expression of Orai3, TRPC3 and TRPC6 were evaluated by Western blotting, and the results revealed that while the expression of Orai3 was enhanced in the STC2-deficient mice, others like TRPC3 and TRPC6 remains almost unaltered. Summarizing, our results provide for the first time evidence for a role of STC2 in platelet physiology through the regulation of agonist-induced Ca2+ entry, which might be mediated by the regulation of Orai3 channel expression.

SummaryThe function of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is upregulated in response to cell stimulation with growing and differentiating factors. Active mTOR controls cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Since mTOR associates with different proteins to form two functional macromolecular complexes, we aimed to investigate the role of the mTORI and mTOR2 complexes in MEG-01 cell physiology in response to thrombopoietin (TPO). By using mTOR antagonists and overexpressing FKBP38, we have explored the role of both mTOR complexes in proliferation, apoptosis, maturation-like mechanisms, endoplasmic reticulum-stress and the intracellular location of both active mTOR complexes during MEG-01 cell stimulation with TPO. The results demonstrate that mTOR1 and mTOR2 complexes play different roles in the physiology of MEG-01 cells and in the maturation-like mechanisms; hence, these findings might help to understand the mechanism underlying generation of platelets.

Here, we provide evidence for the role of FLNA (filamin A) in the modulation of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE).SOCE is a major mechanism for calcium influx controlled by the intracellular CaOur results indicate that FLNA modulates SOCE and then the correct platelet function, by fine-tuning the distribution of STIM1 in the cytoskeleton and the interaction with Orai1 channels.

Background. Increasing age is a risk factor for vascular events but also for bleeding in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). In elderly, meta-analysis of clinical trials of romiplostim (ROM) and eltrombopag (ELT) show that thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) are effective and safe with the exception of increased thromboembolic risk (Olney et al, 2011; Michel et al 2015). Objective. To analyze how age influences the selection of TPO-RA, bleeding and thrombotic risk, comorbidities, and therapeutic management of ITP patients in a real-world setting. Methods. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study that included 121 adult patients with primary ITP from 19 secondary and tertiary Spanish hospitals who had initiated long-term therapy with ROM or ELT between January 2012 and December 2014. Information was collected from medical records (November 2016 to January 2018) to assess variables related to patient characteristics and outcomes of elderly (> 65 years; n=54) compared with younger individuals (n=67). Results. Patients included initiated TPO-RA (ROM, n=54; ELT, n=67) and maintained this therapy for a median time to collection of data of 35.2 months (1 to 67.3 months). The median age at diagnosis of elderly and younger cohorts was respectively 75 years (66-96 years), and 48 years (19-65 years). Older age was associated with a previous history of vascular events (VE) (P=0.049), with more patients receiving antithrombotic therapy (P=0.001), and with a non-significant trend towards increased risk of current VE under TPO-RA therapy (Table). During treatment, 15 patients experienced 17 VE (9 arterial, 8 venous); no association was found between risk for VE in patients under TPO-RA and past history of thromboembolic or ischemic events (P=0.727). Patients that were offered TPO-RA at younger ages presented at diagnosis with significantly lower platelet counts, and increased cumulative bleeding score (Page et al, 2007) (P=0.003, and P=0.034) than elderly ones. Younger patients also had significantly higher visceral bleeding rates at the onset of TPO-RA therapy (P=0.042) and had increased requirement for hospital care (emergency treatment or hospital admission) both six months before and after the start of TPO-RA (P=0.016, and P=0.002, respectively). Older age was associated with comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes (P65 versus ≤65 years, however a more conservative management in terms of discontinuation of therapies was confirmed. Therefore, the rate of tapering off TPO-RA was significantly lower in those >65 years (P=0.028), although the proportion of patients that achieved therapy free response (TFR) (platelet count >50x109/l for at least 6 months) upon discontinuation was similar in both groups (Table). Conclusion. The management of older patients with chronic ITP is still challenging, and widespread effort is made to avoid potential complications such as those related to splenectomy. Our study reflects that the introduction of TPO-RAs has caused a change in the outcomes of these patients. The increased awareness of the unfavorable conditions that are present in this population induces a preferential use of TPO-RAs in elderly patients with a lower bleeding history than in younger patients. Although these drugs associate with a potential risk of increased thrombotic risk, our data indicate that past thrombotic history does not predispose to the development of VE; rather neoplasia in elderly patients, and splenectomy at younger ages are factors that increase the likelihood to suffer from these events. The compromise towards effective therapies in these fragile patients associates with low discontinuation of TPO-RA to test for TFR, although once tapered off, sustained platelet responses are similar to those in younger patients. Disclosures Mingot-Castellano: Novonordisk: Consultancy; Sobi: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Jarque:Abbie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CellTrion: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Grifols: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Speakers Bureau; Shionogi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Campos:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Lopez Fernandez:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Valcarcel:MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; JAZZ: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Casado:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Álvarez Roman:Takeda: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; NovoNordisk: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Background and aims: Significant efforts have been made in international guidelines since 2009 to establish recommendations for the initial work-up of patients with suspected immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and to define who should be treated and how. A previous retrospective study of 101 ITP patients identified important areas of inappropriateness in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of ITP (Lozano et al, 2016), which could negatively impact patient outcomes. This study was aimed to further analyze the level of implementation of current recommendations in the standard practice of adult ITP patients in an independent validation cohort, and compare it to the pre-guideline period. Methods: We collected retrospectively the clinical data of 146 primary adult ITP patients who initiated treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) between January 2012 and December 2014. Data on patient characteristics were obtained from medical records from November 2016 to January 2018 in a multicenter study from 19 secondary and tertiary Spanish hospitals. To evaluate the laboratory diagnosis and the appropriateness of treatment according to guidelines, two cohorts of patients were considered: "pre-group" and "post-group" depending on the date of diagnosis (before or after January 2010). Results: Patients in pre-group (n=71) and post-group (n=75) had a median follow-up from diagnosis of 13.6 years (7.5-54.2 years), and 4.6 years (2.2-7.6 years), respectively. The level of compliance of general diagnostic tests was analyzed and compared. Peripheral blood smear, an examination recommended by all recent guidelines, was performed in 84% of patients in the post-group, and in only 64% of those in the pre-group (P=0.007). Bone marrow assessment at diagnosis of the disorder was ordinarily performed in around half of the patients regardless of the period (54% and 47% in the pre- and post- groups, respectively; P=0.408). Remarkably, in 49% of the patients in the pre-group, bone marrow evaluation was primarily performed due to the department policy, whereas that reason decreased to 25% in the post-group (P=0.027). Moreover, in 21% and 9% of patients in the pre-group and post-group that underwent a bone marrow assessment at diagnosis, the peripheral blood film had not been previously examined (P=0.192). In our cohort, differences in the treatment patterns were analyzed. Prednisone was used as first line-therapy in 89% and 84% of pre- and post- groups, respectively (P=0.406). There was a significant decrease in the duration of first-line therapy with prednisone from start until withdrawal in the post-group compared with the pre-group (median 77 vs. 122 days, respectively; P=0.004). Following first-line treatment, more patients in the pre-group were exposed to further prednisone (45% vs. 25%, P=0.003), and also the number of second or subsequent lines of therapies with this corticosteroid were significantly higher (61 courses of prednisone retreatment in 32 patients vs. 22 courses in 19 patients in the pre- and post- groups, respectively; P=0.008). As expected, a higher proportion of patients in the pre-group underwent splenectomy, and also received more immunosuppressant and immunomodulatory drugs than those in the post-group prior to TPO-RA therapy (P Conclusions: Although some studies have analyzed the compliance with the proposals of guidelines, to date it remains unclear whether the implementation of the recommendations of these consensus-based documents has significantly changed the management of ITP patients compared to the pre-guideline era. Overall, our study evidences that the post-guideline management of ITP in the hospitals included in this multicenter study shows substantial gaps for the diagnosis and treatment of these patients. These deviations include failure to perform universal peripheral blood film examination, ordinary bone marrow assessment in half of the patients at diagnosis, and corticosteroid abuse in terms of duration and number of lines of therapies being prescribed. However, those shortcomings have experienced a considerable reduction compared to the previous decade, likely as a result not only of the availability of new therapies, but also from the translation into the physician's practice of the proposals of guidelines. Table Disclosures Mingot-Castellano: Roche: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Sobi: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Novonordisk: Consultancy. Jarque:Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shionogi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Grifols: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CellTrion: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Campos:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Lopez Fernandez:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Casado:Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Álvarez Roman:Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; NovoNordisk: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

Background . In clinical practice, tapering off thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) in immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is considered if therapy is no longer needed due to a decrease in the disease activity favoring sustained treatment-free responses (TFR). To date, there are no predictors to identify when this approach is likely to be successful, other than earlier start of TPO-RA, and robust platelet responses. Aim. To evaluate clinical predictors of TFR in a real-world cohort of ITP patients treated with TPO-RA by dealing with confounding variables that could be minimized at the stage of the analysis. Methods. In this retrospective, multicenter study from 19 secondary and tertiary Spanish hospitals, patients aged >18 years with chronic ITP who had initiated TPO-RA (eltrombopag [EPG] or romiplostim [ROM]) between January 2012 and December 2014 were included. Data were collected from medical records (November 2016 to January 2018) on patient characteristics, history of disease and previous therapies, TPO-RA administration, response and discontinuation. Results. A total of 82 patients with a median age of 63 years (range 19-90 years), 59.9% females initiated TPO-RA (ROM, n=37; EPG, n=45). The median time from diagnosis of ITP to therapy with TPO-RA was 5.5 years (1.1-50.3 years). In all cases the TPO-RA was started with intention to treat indefinitely; the median initial doses of EPG were 350 mg/week (175-525 mg/week), and those of ROM 2.0 μg/kg/week (1.0-7.0 μg/kg/week). The median time on TPO-RA treatment was 2.9 years (0.1 to 5.6 years), and the median follow-up from start of TPO-RA until collection of data was of 3.9 years (1.3 to 5.6 years). A total of 29 patients (35.4%) switched TPO-RA during follow-up. The most frequent cause for switching was lack of efficacy (44.8% of cases -in all cases the initial TPO-RA was EPG-). Due to switching, 58 patients received ROM, and 53 were treated with EPG, yielding 122.3, and 100.8 patient-years of total exposure, respectively. During follow-up almost one half of the patients (47.6%, n=39) stopped TPO-RA. After a median of 1.4 years (0.1-3.3 yrs) under TPO-RA treatment, 19 patients (23.2% of the whole cohort) maintained TFR defined as platelet counts >50x109/l for a median follow-up of 2.8 years (1.5-4.4 years) in the absence of any platelet increasing drug. Remarkably, while the specific TPO-RA that was discontinued did not influence the probability to achieve TFR (P=0.582), there was a trend towards receiving ROM as first TPO-RA and attaining sustained responses (P=0.073), while switching TPO-RA negatively predicted TFR (P=0.010). In univariate analysis with logistic regression, switching TPO-RA was associated with a 6.4 risk of not achieving TFR (P= 0.019). The overall comparison of the Kaplan-Meier curves indicated an association (log-rank P=0.041) among the initial TPO-RA that was prescribed and the probability of TFR (Fig 1A), but the estimated median time to achieve TFR was not reached for either TPO-RA. When switching and initial TPO-RA were considered, patients receiving ROM and not experiencing switching were the best performing group in terms of achieving TFR; the median time to taper off the drug and sustain platelet responses was 3.3 years (95% CI 2.7-4.0 years) (Fig. 1B). Conclusion. In this observational research analysis, we have tried to minimize the possible bias of some studies that could mistakenly attribute TPO-RA induced TFR, when in fact it may be the natural course of the underlying disease. By analyzing a group of chronic ITP patients with a particularly poor baseline prognosis (median time from diagnosis 5.5 years) we address potential confounding variables by disease severity. Our data show that assuring that long duration under TPO-RA therapy is provided (median of 3.3 years), one half of chronic ITP patients treated with ROM and not undergoing switching can achieve TFR. Disclosures Mingot-Castellano: Roche: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Sobi: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Novonordisk: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy. Jarque:Abbie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Grifols: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CellTrion: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Servier: Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; MSD: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Shionogi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Campos:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Lopez Fernandez:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Casado:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Álvarez Roman:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Sobi: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; NovoNordisk: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau.

The use of the mammal target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors has been consolidated as the therapy of election for preventing graft rejection in kidney transplant patients, despite their immunosuppressive activity is less strong than anti-calcineurin agents like tacrolimus and cyclosporine A. Furthermore, as mTOR is widely expressed, rapamycin (a macrolide antibiotic produced by Streptomyces hygroscopicus) is recommended in patients presenting neoplasia due to its antiproliferative actions. Hence, we have investigated whether rapamycin presents side effects in the physiology of other cell types different from leucocytes, such as platelets. Blood samples were drawn from healthy volunteers and kidney transplant patients long-term medicated with rapamycin: sirolimus and everolimus. Platelets were either loaded with fura-2 or directly stimulated, and immunoassayed or fixed with Laemmli's buffer to perform the subsequent analysis of platelet physiology. Our results indicate that rapamycin evokes a biphasic time-dependent alteration in calcium homeostasis and function in platelets from kidney transplant patients under rapamycin regime, as demonstrated by the reduction in granule secretion observed and subsequent impairment of platelet aggregation in these patients compared with healthy volunteers. Platelet count was also reduced in these patients, thus 41% of patients presented thrombocytopenia. All together our results show that long-term administration of rapamycin to kidney transplant patients evokes alteration in platelet function.

After the judgment Deutsche Lufthansa, the role of national courts in the enforcement of the European State aid rules seems to be difficult to understand. Nevertheless, these difficulties are more theoretical than real. The role of national courts is linked to the direct effect of the standstill clause and to the activity of the Commission. On the basis of this clause, national courts protect individual rights against the premature enforcement of a measure of aid. In doing so, they are bound by the Commission’s decision to open the formal investigation procedure showing its doubts concerning the compatibility of the measure that was prematurely enforced. However, when the Commission has adopted no decision, they have to decide on its character of State aid. In addition, national courts have to decide in every case which are the appropriate remedies to offset the negative consequences of unauthorised granting of State aid. As will be seen, these are not limited to the recovery. A proper understanding of the role of national courts in the enforcement of State aid rules helps to answer the strong criticism raised by that judgment, which, in the light of the considerations made in this article, does not seem founded.

Excessive bleeding at surgery is a feared complication in patients with inherited platelet disorders. However, very few studies have evaluated the frequency of surgical bleeding in these hemorrhagic disorders. We performed a worldwide, multicentric, retrospective study to assess the bleeding complications of surgery, the preventive and therapeutic approaches adopted, and their efficacy in patients with inherited platelet disorders: the Surgery in Platelet disorders And Therapeutic Approach (SPATA) study. We rated the outcome of 829 surgical procedures carried out in 423 patients with well-defined forms of inherited platelet disorders: 238 inherited platelet function disorders and 185 inherited platelet number disorders. Frequency of surgical bleeding was high in patients with inherited platelet disorders (19.7%), with a significantly higher bleeding incidence in inherited platelet function disorders (24.8%) than in inherited platelet number disorders (13.4%). The frequency of bleeding varied according to the type of inherited platelet disorder, with biallelic Bernard Soulier syndrome having the highest occurrence (44.4%). Frequency of bleeding was predicted by a pre-operative World Health Organization bleeding score of 2 or higher. Some types of surgery were associated with a higher bleeding incidence, like cardiovascular and urological surgery. The use of pre-operative pro-hemostatic treatments was associated with a lower bleeding frequency in patients with inherited platelet function disorders but not in inherited platelet number disorders. Desmopressin, alone or with antifibrinolytic agents, was the preventive treatment associated with the lowest bleedings. Platelet transfusions were used more frequently in patients at higher bleeding risk. Surgical bleeding risk in inherited platelet disorders is substantial, especially in inherited platelet function disorders, and bleeding history, type of disorder, type of surgery and female sex are associated with higher bleeding frequency. Prophylactic pre-operative pro-hemostatic treatments appear to be required and are associated with a lower bleeding incidence.

Objective The European Acquired Haemophilia registry (EACH2) collected data on the demographics, diagnosis, underlying disorders, bleeding characteristics, treatment, and outcome of women with acquired haemophilia A (AHA), a rare and often severe bleeding disorder caused by autoantibodies directed against coagulation factor VIII. Design Prospective, multi-centre, large-scale, pan-European registry. Setting A total of 117 haemophilia centres in 13 European countries. Population Pregnancy-associated AHA. Methods Data were reported using a web-based electronic case report form. Diagnosis was based on the presence of a prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, reduced coagulation Factor VIII level and positive inhibitor assay. Main outcome measures Presenting characteristics, time to diagnosis, haemostatic treatment and outcome, immunosuppressive treatment and outcome. Results The EACH2 registry (n = 501) documented 42 (8.4%) cases of AHA associated with the peripartum period, a median Factor VIII level at diagnosis of 2.5 (range 0–25) IU/dl and inhibitor titre of 7.8 (range 0.7–348) BU/ml. Antepartum inhibitors were evident in eight women. Time to diagnosis of AHA after delivery was 89 (range 21–120) days. First-line haemostatic treatment was successful in 20/23 (87%) women treated. Bleeding episodes resolved in 17/18 (94%) women treated with a bypassing agent and 29/39 (74%) women achieved complete remission with first-line immunosuppressive treatment. Two babies experienced postnatal bleeding, suggesting transplacental transfer of the antibody. All women were alive at last follow-up. Conclusions Although rare, pregnancy-associated AHA may cause severe bleeding-related morbidity. Once diagnosed, women respond well to haemostatic treatment with bypassing agents and immunosuppression. Awareness of peripartum AHA requires improvement to facilitate rapid and appropriate management.

Homer is a family of cytoplasmic adaptor proteins that play different roles in cell function, including the regulation of G-protein-coupled receptors. These proteins contain an Ena (Enabled)/VASP (vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein) homology 1 domain that binds to the PPXXF sequence motif, which is present in different Ca 2+ -handling proteins such as IP 3 (inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) receptors and TRPC (transient receptor potential canonical) channels. In the present study we show evidence for a role of Homer proteins in the STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1)–Orai1 association, as well as in the TRPC1–IP 3 RII (type II IP 3 receptor) interaction, which might be of relevance in platelet function. Treatment of human platelets with thapsigargin or thrombin results in a Ca 2+ -independent association of Homer1 with TRPC1 and IP 3 RII. In addition, thapsigargin and thrombin enhanced the association of Homer1 with STIM1 and Orai1 in a Ca 2+ -dependent manner. Interference with Homer function by introduction of the synthetic PPKKFR peptide into cells, which emulates the proline-rich sequences of the PPXXF motif, reduced STIM1–Orai1 and TRPC1– IP 3 RII associations, as compared with the introduction of the inactive PPKKRR peptide. The PPKKFR peptide attenuates thrombin-evoked Ca 2+ entry and the maintenance of thapsigargin-induced store-operated Ca 2+ entry. Finally, the PPKKFR peptide attenuated thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. The findings of the present study support an important role for Homer proteins in thrombin-stimulated platelet function, which is likely to be mediated by the support of agonist-induced Ca 2+ entry.

Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is a key element of the store-operated Ca 2+ entry mechanism (SOCE). Recently, regulation of STIM1 by glycosylation and phosphorylation on serine/threonine or proline residues has been described; however other modes of phosphorylation that are important for activating SOCE in platelets, such as tyrosine phosphorylation, have been poorly investigated. Here we investigate the latency of STIM1 phosphorylation on tyrosine residues during the first steps of SOCE activation. Human platelets were stimulated and fixed at desired times using rapid kinetic assays instruments, and immunoprecipitation and western blotting techniques were then used to investigate the pattern of STIM1 tyrosine phosphorylation during the first steps of SOCE activation. We have found that maximal STIM1 tyrosine phosphorylation occurred 2.5 s after stimulation of human platelets with thapsigargin (Tg). STIM1 localized in the plasma membrane were also phosphorylated in platelets stimulated with Tg. By using chemical inhibitors that target different members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases (SKFs), two independent signaling pathways involved in STIM1 tyrosine phosphorylation during the first steps of SOCE activation were identified. We finally conclude that STIM1 tyrosine phosphorylation is a key event for the association of STIM1 with plasma membrane Ca 2+ channels such as Orai1, hence it is required for conducting SOCE activation.

Introduction Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an inherited platelet disorder characterized by bleeding diathesis, oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and, sometimes, serious clinical complicationssuch as immunodeficiency, granulomatous colitis, and/or pulmonary fibrosis. Heterogeneous clinical symptoms and a large number of possible genetic culprits (10 HPS genes, >120 exons) complicate an unequivocal diagnosis of HPS. This study aimed to assess the clinical and platelet phenotype in ten patients with suspected HPS, and to identify the underlying genetic defects. Methods Ten patients from six families (F1 and F3 were Spanish, F2 was Turkish and F4, F5 and F6 were Portuguese) presenting with OCA (confirmed by skin biopsy) and bleeding diathesiswere included. Bleeding was evaluated by ISTH-BAT score. Phenotyping included, in patients with fresh blood samples available, platelet aggregation and ATP release, flow cytometry (FC), 14C-serotonin uptake and whole-mount electron microscopy (EM). Patients DNA was analyzed using two different targeted panels by high throughput sequencing (HTS). Sequence variants classification was performed according to ACMP recommendations. Results Patient characteristics are summarized in table 1. In F1, that had no history of consanguinity, there were two affected sisters. Patients 1 (P1) had several episodes of gastrointestinal bleeding (GI), which was attributed to granulomatous colitis. F2 is a consanguineous Turkish family, were P3 had severe rectal bleeding, requiring colectomy combined with ileostomy surgery. Pathological examination of the colon was reported as non-granulomatous colitis. Her older sister (P4) had exhibited dyspnea and shortness according to diffuse bilateral pulmonary fibrosis (BPF) diagnosis. In F3, P5 had been referred with acute GI bleeding secondary to angiodysplasia. In the non-consanguineous F4, HPS was first confirmed in P6, who showed blonde hair, nystagmus and low visual acuity; his older sister was diagnosed with HPS later, at the age of 56 years old (P7), because her OCA was masked using dark brown hair-coloring products. In P8, born from a non-consanguineous family (F5), HPS was suspected early in life, four months of age, upon recognition of OCA, nystagmus, deep visual deficiency and exotropia with compensatory torticollis. Lastly, in the consanguineous Portuguese family (F6), the two affected children (P9 and P10) had also showed a horizontal and torsional nystagmus and reduced visual activity. P10 also suffered from epilepsy and mild development delay. In phenotyping studies, the Spanish patients (P1, P2, P5) showed impaired platelet aggregation to mild agonists and reduced platelet dense granules by FC and EM. No platelet studies could be performed in F2. In Portuguese patients (F4, F5 and F6), the ATP release studies demonstrated a dense granule deficiency (Table 1). Molecular diagnosis was achieved, as a first-line approach, by means of HTS gene panels that revealed: a) F1 (P1 & P2) a homozygous deletion c.2054delC (p.P685L fs17*) in exon 13 of the HPS4, which had been previously reported in one Asian patient who showed BPF; b) F2 (P3 & P4): anovel missense homozygousvariant c.272T>C (p.L91P) in exon 4 of the HPS4. Remarkably, the phenotype of the two Turkish sisters was different, with one having had severe GI bleeding requiring colectomy, and the other had developed BPF. C) F3 (P5): a novel heterozygous variant c.2464C>T (p.R822*) in exon 13 of the HPS3 was detected; d) F4 (P6 & P7) and F5 (P8): here a nonsense variant c.307C>T (p.Q103*) was identified in exon 5 of the DTNBP1, which was previously reported in a Portuguese patient. E) F6 (P9 & P10): these patients carried a novel five base pair duplication in the single exon of HPS6, c.60_64dup (p.L22R fs*33). Conclusions This study reports 10 new HPS patients, which demonstrates the heterogeneous nature of this syndrome and the complex phenotype-genotype correlations. The novel HTStechnology has facilitated the molecular diagnosis of HPS in these patients. Among the underlying molecular pathology, we identified a novel p.L91P variant in HPS4 that is associated with a severe clinical phenotype. Funding Gerencia Regional de Salud (GRS 1647/A/17), Fundación Séneca (19873/GERM/15), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, PI17/01966, PI17/01311,CB15/00055), Grupo de trabajo SETH and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL, IBY17/00006). Table Table. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Resumen Los eventos cardiovasculares asociados al consumo de heroina son infrecuentes y se relacionan con la via intravenosa. Se presenta un caso de un varon de 39 anos, consumidor de heroina inhalada, que sufrio un infarto de miocardio evolucionado. El cateterismo coronario reflejo una oclusion subaguda de la arteria descendente anterior, que requirio implante de un stent farmacoactivo. Algunos estudios observacionales retrospectivos sugieren que el consumo de opiaceos por via oral o inhalada incrementa el riesgo de enfermedad coronaria e infarto, de ahi la importancia de la prevencion cardiovascular en este grupo de pacientes.

This paper is designed to analyse the effectiveness of tag-along and drag-along arrangements. These are of widespread use in corporate reality, in particular among private companies. And yet, despite their recurrence in normal practice, they have not to date attracted the interest of the legal literature. The paper intends to confirm the validity of three essential intuitions about these arrangements that redefine the ordinary understanding of them. The first is that they constitute ‘anti-opportunism’ mechanisms inasmuch as they are arrangements in principle designed to respond to ex post conflicts of interest between liquidity and stability. They are, then, contractual tools that aim to protect one shareholder from opportunistic behaviour on the part of another in companies where both have made heavy specific investments. These clauses are particularly pertinent in settings such as joint ventures or venture capital companies, which tend to involve such investments. The second intuition is that these arrangements constitute self-defence tools that are, additionally, relatively self-enforceable. Specifically, self-defence adopts the form of a put option in tag-along arrangements or a call option in drag-along arrangements, to the benefit of shareholders exposed to expropriation risk. These tools are relatively self-enforceable because their implementation entails no third-party involvement. The third intuition is that their typical location is that of shareholders’ agreements and not bylaws, since they define inter-shareholder relations (involving all or some of them) rather than corporate structure or machinery.

SummaryThe diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (VWD) remains difficult in a significant proportion of patients. A Spanish multicentre study investigated a cohort of 556 patients from 330 families who were analysed centrally. VWD was confirmed in 480. Next generation sequencing (NGS) of the whole coding VWF was carried out in all recruited patients, compared with the phenotype, and a final diagnosis established. A total of 238 different VWF mutations were found, 154 were not included in the Leiden Open Variation Database (LOVD). Of the patients, 463 were found to have VWF mutation/s. A good phenotypic/ genotypic association was estimated in 96.5 % of the patients. One hundred seventy-four patients had two or more mutations. Occasionally a predominant phenotype masked the presence of a second abnormality. One hundred sixteen patients presented with mutations that had previously been associated with increased von Willebrand factor (VWF) clearance. RIPA unavailability, central phenotypic results disagreement and difficult distinction between severe type 1 and type 3 VWD prevented a clear diagnosis in 70 patients. The NGS study facilitated an appropriate classification in 63 of them. The remaining seven patients presented with a VWF novel mutation pending further investigation. In five patients with a type 3 and two with a type 2A or 2B phenotype with no mutation, an acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) was suspected/confirmed. These data seem to support NGS as a first line efficient and faster paradigm in VWD diagnosis.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.

Very few data exist on the management of adult patients diagnosed with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The objectives of this study were to describe the diagnostic and treatment patterns for ITP and to compare the findings to recent ITP guidelines. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of adult ITP patients diagnosed with primary ITP between January 2011 and June 2012 and examined whether management strategies were consistent or not with eight recent guideline-recommended practices. Overall, median age at the diagnosis of the disease (n = 101) was 58 years and median platelet count 12 x 10(9)/L with 75.2 % of patients having symptoms of ITP. The study perceived two major shortcomings in the diagnostic approach: (1) failure to perform peripheral blood film examination in 22.8 % of patients, a test that is mandatory by all guidelines, and (2) ordinary bone marrow assessment in more than half of the patients at diagnosis (50.5 %), a test not routinely recommended by guidelines. Low appropriateness in therapeutic management of patients included (1) unjustified use of intravenous immunoglobulin in the absence of bleeding in 54.8 % of patients and (2) splenectomy not being deferred until 6-12 months from diagnosis (median 161 days). Data also reflect a trend towards the early use of thrombopoietin receptor agonists in the treatment of patients who are refractory to any first-line therapy. We have recognized important areas of inapropriateness in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of adult ITP patients. Compliance with established guidelines should be encouraged in order to improve patient outcomes.

Changes in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)]c) regulate granule secretion in different cell types. Thrombin activates PAR1 and PAR4 receptors and promotes release of Ca(2+) from distinct intracellular stores, which, in turn, activates store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE). A crucial step during platelet function is the release of physiological agonists stored in secretory granules to the extracellular compartment during activation. We aim to study the role of Ca(2+) mobilization from the extracellular compartment or from different intracellular stores in platelet granule secretion. By using flow cytometry, we have found that α- and δ-granules are secreted in thrombin-stimulated platelets in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), and in a concentration-dependent manner. Our findings show that thrombin-stimulated granule secretion depends on Ca(2+) mobilization from intracellular stores. Analysis of the kinetics of granule secretion reveals that platelet stimulation with thrombin results in rapid release of α-granules which precedes the secretion of δ-granules. Incubation of platelets with a specific antibody, which recognizes the extracellular amino acid sequence 573-586 of TRPC6, inhibited thrombin-evoked δ-granule exocytosis. Our results indicate that the mechanisms underlying thrombin-induced α- and δ-granule secretion show differences in dependency on Ca(2+) mobilization.