Abstract The Austrian Haemophilia Registry collects epidemiological data on patients with haemophilia, on treatment modalities and potential side effects. The Registry covers more than 85% of the assumed total number of haemophilia patients in Austria. This report summarizes data on 753 patients: 84.3% (635) have haemophilia A and 15.7% (118) have haemophilia B. Patients' median age is 34 years (range: 1–93 years). Of the total cohort, 39.0% (294) patients have severe haemophilia, 11.3% (85) moderate haemophilia, and 49.4% (372) mild haemophilia. Of the patients with severe haemophilia, 38.4% (113) have been infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and 12.6% (37) are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. Overall, 10.6% (67) of patients with haemophilia A and 1.7% (2) of those with haemophilia B have had an inhibitor in their history. Among patients with severe haemophilia, 68.4% (201) receive prophylaxis and 28.6% (84) receive on-demand therapy. There are 65.0% (191) patients with severe haemophilia who are treated with recombinant products. In conclusion, most patients with severe haemophilia receive prophylactic treatment. HCV and HIV infections are still important issues in the Austrian haemophilia population.
Introduction Consumptive coagulopathy in neonates is usually due to sepsis but, rarely, may result from a congenital disorder. Parallel bleeding and thrombotic manifestations present a therapeutic dilemma.
Childhood and adolescence are critical periods of bone mineral acquisition. Children on anticoagulation (AC) might have an increased risk for reduced bone mineral density (BMD). Risk factors for impaired bone accumulation include chronic diseases, immobility, and medication. Vitamin K (VK) deficiency reflected by undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels (ucOC) has been identified as a predictor of osteoporosis and fractures. Data on bone health in children under AC are sparse.To evaluate BMD in children on AC and characterize the risk factors of low BMD, including VK and Vitamin D (VD) status.Single-center cross-sectional study of clinical, biochemical, and densitometric parameters. Assessment of VK surrogate parameters included ucOC and matrix gla protein (MGP).A total of 39 children (4-18 years; 12 females) receiving AC were included, 31 (79%) on VK antagonists and 8 (21%) on direct oral anticoagulants. Overall, BMD was decreased for both the lumbar spine (LS; -0.7SDS) and total body less head (TBLH; -1.32SDS) compared with pediatric reference data. Significant associations were found between early pubertal development and TBLH-BMD, and between BMI and LS-BMD. VK surrogate parameters were highly related to patients' age and pubertal development. Neither serum parameters nor AC-related factors predicted BMD. VD was detected in 10/39 patients with lower values during puberty.Our data indicate BMD reduction in pediatric patients on AC. Although AC-related factors did not predict reduced BMD, low BMI and pubertal stages represented important risk factors. Awareness of risk factors for low BMD and high prevalence of VD deficiency during puberty could contribute to the improvement of bone health in this vulnerable patient group.
Factor VIII (FVIII) levels show a considerable variability in female carriers of haemophilia A. Presently, the reasons for this are poorly understood. The aim of the study was to elucidate the influence of genetic and non-genetic parameters on FVIII plasma levels in carriers (n = 42). Results were compared with age-matched healthy women without carriership of haemophilia A (n = 42). Each carrier was tested for the family-specific mutation, ABO blood group, FVIII level, von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen and activity and C-reactive protein (CRP). FVIII levels were lower in carriers compared to non-carriers [74% (51-103) vs. 142% (109-169), P < 0.001]. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to VWF activity, prothrombin-time, hs-CRP, fibrinogen, body mass index (BMI), age and smoking status as well as the distribution of ABO blood groups. In non-carriers, FVIII was statistically significantly correlated with BMI, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), VWF antigen, hs-CRP and fibrinogen. In carriers, significant correlations between FVIII and APTT, VWF antigen and activity were found, whereas BMI, hs-CRP or fibrinogen did not correlate with FVIII. In non-carriers, the association of FVIII with ABO blood groups was statistically significant (P = 0.006), but not in carriers of haemophilia A (P = 0.234). The type of FVIII gene mutation did not influence FVIII levels. Carrier status is the major determinant of a carrier;s FVIII plasma level. Factors known to influence FVIII levels in the general population do not significantly affect FVIII activity in carriers, neither does the type of mutation influence FVIII levels.
