Abstract
IntroductionThe coagulation activation in -thalassaemia is multifactorial and most likely a consequence of the exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on RBCs surface. The degree of PS exposure and procoagulant activity of RBCs in -thalassaemia trait (BTT) subjects carrying common Mediterranean mutations were assessed.
MethodsEighty BTT subjects carrying common Mediterranean mutations (+, n=53 and (0), n=27) and sixty healthy subjects served as controls were studied. Plasma prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), percentage of PS expression on RBCs membrane, clotting times of modified thromboplastin generation test (MTGT) and modified partial thromboplastin with kaolin (MPTTK) were estimated.
ResultsThe percentage of annexin V positive RBCs and plasma F1+2 had a significant increase and MTGT had a significant decrease in BTT subjects versus controls and in (0) group versus + group. MPTTK was significantly shorter in BTT subjects than controls, but no significant deference between BTT subjects. The percentage of annexin V positive RBCs showed a significant negative correlation with haemoglobin level, MTGT and MPTTK, and a significant positive correlation with plasma F1+2.
ConclusionBTT subjects may have a risk of hypercoagulable state particularly in (0) genotype. Measurement of PS exposure on RBCs and the plasma F1+2 is useful to evaluate hypercoagulability state.