Botero, Juliana Perez

Abstract Background: Germline predisposition states (GPS), including inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) are seen in 5-10% of individuals with myeloid neoplasms (MN). Given overlap with somatic driver genes, blood, saliva, and buccal swabs are suboptimal specimens for GPS testing in MN; the latter two due to contamination with blood cells(Jerez, 2024). Skin biopsy with fibroblast culture-derived DNA remains the gold standard, but the process is expensive, takes 6-8 weeks to complete, and fibroblast culture failure can occur in some patients with telomere biology disorders. Given the need to rapidly screen donors for HSCT and adjust therapy/conditioning in certain IBMFS, we developed a rapid hematologic germline testing algorithm using hair follicle-derived DNA. Methods The study was conducted after IRB approval through the Mayo Clinic GPS/IBMFS clinic. To perform PCR-based hair follicle testing, we obtained 15-25 hair follicles (bulbs) per patient. The bulbs were placed in a microcentrifuge tube and subjected to a 24-hour digestion and extraction protocol using a modified version of the QIAGEN DNA Purification from Dried Blood Spots protocol. DNA quality was assessed by Nanodrop and Qubit.Testing included either validation of known or suspected germline variants (e.g., RUNX1, DDX41, ETV6), or panel testing (e.g., GPS or IBMFS). Pathogenic variants were validated by repeat testing in a CAP/CLIA certified lab prior to medical decision making. 23 patients underwent whole exome sequencing (WES) in a CAP/CLIA lab, and 13 patients had concurrent germline testing using alternate DNA sources (8 skin biopsies, 1 saliva, 4 buccal swabs). Results Ninety-three patients (49 male, 53%) underwent hair follicle-derived germline DNA testing (median age 63 years). Indications for germline testing included the presence of a suspected variant on somatic testing with variant allele frequency (VAF) between 35%-60% ( n= 66, 71%), patient age <50 years (n=26, 28%), antecedent thrombocytopenia (n=15, 16%), presence of syndromic features (n=4, 4%), patient history of multiple malignancies (n=4, 4%), and positive family history (n=15, 16%). Time to reporting variants after receipt of hair follicle-derived DNA was <14 days. There were zero complications associated with the procedure. DNA quality as assessed by Nanodrop revealed a median nucleic acid concentration of 25.64 ng/μL. The median A260/A280 ratio was 1.86 (range 0.701-2.133) and the median A260/A230 ratio was 1.27 (range -8.193-9.223). DNA quality was insufficient for chromosomal microarray (CMA) assessments. Of 93 patients evaluated, 67 (72%) had ≥1 germline variant, with 3 having >1 germline variant for a total of 72 variants. Pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants identified included: DDX41 (30, 41.7%), TP53 (4, 5.6%), ANKRD26 (4, 5.6%), RUNX1 (4, 5.6%), GATA2 (3, 4.2%), TERT (3, 4.2%), JAK3 (2, 2.8%), SAMD9/SAMD9L (2, 2.8%), ATM (2, 2.8%), and 1 each (1.4%) in BCL2, BCOR, BPGM, CDKN2A, CEBPA, CHEK2, CSF3R, CXCR4, DNMT3A, ETV6, GATA1, MPL, MPO, POT1, PTPN11, RPL5, and SH2B3. In the 13 patients that had concurrent germline testing, results were identical in all cases, except for 1 false negative in a buccal specimen (PTPN11) and 1 case of germline mosaicism, where the TP53 variant was identified in the blood and hair follicle DNA but not in skin fibroblast DNA. After testing, 30 (44.7%) patients had a change in their management plan: 8 (27%) with DDX41-GPS were observed due to known latency of DDX41-mutant MN, 6 (20%) were referred for HSCT based on the germline variant (CEBPA, DDX41, GATA1, GATA2, RPL5, TP53), 6 (20%) were placed on an enhanced surveillance plan for cancer screening (1 ANKRD26, 3 TERT, 2 TP53), 4 (13%) patients undergoing HSCT had related donors removed from consideration as they were carriers (2 DDX41, 1 ANKRD26, and 1 SAMD9), 2 (7%) patients with neutropenia and underlying germline variants (1 ATM, 1 DDX41) had G-CSF therapy discontinued due to concerns for clonal stimulation, and 1 (3%) patient with a germline CDKN2A mutation (hematological diagnosis- CMML) was recommended to avoid radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Conclusion In summary, we validate a rapid and simple hair follicle-derived DNA based germline assessment for patients with hematological disorders and demonstrate a positive impact on clinical care in 44% of patients. We are currently optimizing DNA quality so that germline copy number alterations can be better detected using CMA.

Abstract Introduction: Only 30% of patients (pts) presenting with abnormal bleeding symptoms receive a clear diagnosis, with many classified as having bleeding disorder of unknown cause, or BDUC (Baker et al. 2021). Currently, the recommended diagnostic workup for BDUC by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) includes plasmatic assays for coagulation factors, von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen/activity, and platelet function testing (PFT), specifically platelet function analyzer-100 (PFA-100) and light transmission aggregometry (LTA). However, PFTs are not widely available and cannot be mailed to reference laboratories. We studied the diagnostic yield of an expanded testing panel which includes quantitative platelet glycoprotein flow cytometry (GpFL) and platelet electron microscopy (PTEM), which we have optimized for specimen mailing. Methods: We conducted a minimal risk, retrospective study by reviewing the electronic health records of pts (18 years and older) who were seen in the Coagulation Clinic of a tertiary academic medical center for evaluation of a bleeding disorder between October 2017 and June 2025. Testing included plasma-based assays including PT, APTT, vWF assay, FVIII, FIX, FXIII screen, and thrombin time (and additional reflex assays as needed). At the discretion of the treating clinician, PFTs (PFA-100 and LTA), GpFL, PTEM, and fibrinolysis assays (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen [PAI-1 Ag] and alpha-2 plasmin inhibitor) were included. We abstracted clinical data on pt demographics, ISTH bleeding scores, and the results of coagulation testing. Pts with an established diagnosis of a bleeding disorder, underlying malignancy, and those who did not have plasma-based coagulation testing were excluded from this study. Results: 109 pts met study criteria, and 82.6% were females (n = 90) with a median age of 45 years (range = 18-88 years). The median ISTH-BAT score was 7 (range: 2-21). About half of the pts, 49.5% (n = 54), had normal coagulation profiles and PFTs. All 54 had PTEM performed, of which 14.8% (n = 8) were abnormal (alpha and/or dense granule deficiencies). 85.2% (n = 46) had GpFL testing performed, with one showing reduced Gp2b/CD42 and Gp3a/CD61 expression, four showing reduced Gp1a/CD49b expression, and three showing reduced GpVI expression. Half of the pts, 50.5% (n = 55) had an abnormal coagulation profile from plasma and/or PFTs, of which 20% (n = 11) had a clinically significant coagulation factor deficiency (FV, FVII, FX). Roughly 9.1% (n = 5) had type 1 vWD of which 1 also had PAI-1 deficiency. One pt had isolated PAI-1 deficiency. Abnormal coagulation profiles were noted in 53 pts who had PFA-100 and LTA done, and both tests were normal in 22.6% (n = 12). Within the abnormal coagulation profile group, 10.9% (n = 6) had ultrastructural abnormalities on PTEM (dense and alpha granule abnormalities). Majority of the pts (n = 46) had GpFL done, and one had abnormal reductions in Gp1b-aCD42b, three in Gp1aCD49b, and seven in GPVI. Comparison of the ISTH BAT score between the normal and abnormal coagulation profiles/PFTs groups by non-parametric (Mann-Whitney U test) and parametric (Welch's t-test) showed no significant difference (p = 0.56 and p = 0.87) respectively. Conclusion: In this cohort of pts with abnormal bleeding, standard recommended testing resulted in a diagnosis in 66.4% pts. The remainder would have been classified as BDUC. The addition of GpFL and PTEM resulted in establishing a diagnosis that explains the bleeding phenotype in 14.8% of pts with an otherwise normal coagulation profile and PFT. Although abnormal PFTs indicate a platelet function defect, GpFL and PTEM may further define the abnormalities particularly differentiating syndromic from non-syndromic inherited platelet disorders. Additional studies are needed to confirm our findings and explore the possibility of addition of GpFL and PTEM for patients with BDUC.

ABSTRACTIntroductionVon Willebrand factor (VWF) multimer analysis is essential for diagnosing and classifying von Willebrand disease (VWD) but requires expert interpretation and is subject to inter‐rater variability. We developed an automated image analysis pipeline using deep learning to improve the reproducibility and efficiency of VWF multimer pattern classification.MethodsWe trained a YOLOv8 deep learning model on 514 gel images (6168 labeled instances) to classify VWF multimer patterns into 12 classes. The model was validated on 192 images (2304 instances) and tested on an independent set of 94 images (1128 instances). Images underwent preprocessing, including histogram equalization, contrast enhancement, and gamma correction. Two expert raters provided ground truth classifications.ResultsThe model achieved 91% accuracy compared to Expert 1 (macro‐averaged precision = 0.851, recall = 0.757, F1‐score = 0.786) and 87% accuracy compared to Expert 2 (macro‐averaged precision = 0.653, recall = 0.653, F1‐score = 0.641). Inter‐rater agreement was very high between experts (κ = 0.883), with strong agreement between the model and Expert 1 (κ = 0.845) and good agreement with Expert 2 (κ = 0.773). The model performed exceptionally well on common patterns (F1 > 0.93) but showed lower performance on rare subtypes.ConclusionAutomated VWF multimer analysis using deep learning demonstrates high accuracy in pattern classification and could standardize the interpretation of VWF multimer patterns. While not replacing expert analysis, this approach could improve the efficiency of expert human review, potentially streamlining laboratory workflow and expanding access to VWF multimer testing.

Abstract von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a common inherited bleeding disorder caused by von Willebrand factor (VWF) deficiency and is an important cause of heavy menstrual bleeding in young patients. A clinical evaluation using standardized bleeding scores helps determine when screening hemostatic testing is indicated by identifying patients with a moderate or high probability of an inherited bleeding disorder. The diagnosis of VWD is made when VWF levels are under 30 IU/dL or between 30 and 50 IU/dL when there is a positive bleeding history. Activity levels above 100 IU/dL have a high negative predictive value. Multiple factors, including stress from acute bleeding and anemia, pregnancy, and medications, can affect VWF levels, hence testing for VWD is best performed when a person's health is at its baseline level, although this is not always possible in clinical practice. Variation in assay methodologies measuring VWF activity can have a significant impact on the diagnostic evaluation, and it is important for clinicians to be familiar with the limitations of the assay used by their local or reference laboratory. Genetic testing can be useful in establishing the VWD subtype and providing accurate reproductive counseling but is not required to make a diagnosis.

Because up to 12% of obstetric patients meet criteria for the diagnosis of thrombocytopenia in pregnancy, it is not infrequent that the anesthesiologist must decide whether to proceed with a neuraxial procedure in an affected patient. Given the potential morbidity associated with general anesthesia for cesarean delivery, thoughtful consideration of which patients with thrombocytopenia are likely to have an increased risk of spinal epidural hematoma with neuraxial procedures, and when these risks outweigh the relative benefits is important to consider and to inform shared decision making with patients. Because there are substantial risks associated with withholding a neuraxial analgesic/anesthetic procedure in obstetric patients, every effort should be made to perform a bleeding history assessment and determine the thrombocytopenia etiology before admission for delivery. Whereas multiple other professional societies (obstetric, interventional pain, and hematologic) have published guidelines addressing platelet thresholds for safe neuraxial procedures, the US anesthesia professional societies have been silent on this topic. Despite a paucity of high-quality data, there are now meta-analyses that provide better estimations of risks. An interdisciplinary taskforce was convened to unite the relevant professional societies, synthesize the data, and provide a practical decision algorithm to help inform risk-benefit discussions and shared decision making with patients. Through a systematic review and modified Delphi process, the taskforce concluded that the best available evidence indicates the risk of spinal epidural hematoma associated with a platelet count ≥70,000 × 10 6 /L is likely to be very low in obstetric patients with thrombocytopenia secondary to gestational thrombocytopenia, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the absence of other risk factors. Ultimately, the decision of whether to proceed with a neuraxial procedure in an obstetric patient with thrombocytopenia occurs within a clinical context. Potentially relevant factors include, but are not limited to, patient comorbidities, obstetric risk factors, airway examination, available airway equipment, risk of general anesthesia, and patient preference.

Abstract Aims/Objective:Congenital antithrombin (AT) deficiency, estrogen-containing oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and pregnancy are associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Little is known about reproductive decision-making in women with AT deficiency. We sought to explore the attitudes and choices regarding reproductive health in this population. Study Design/Methods:We conducted a provider-administered survey of women identified from the Mayo Clinic congenital AT deficiency database. Participants were asked to discuss their diagnosis of AT deficiency (age at diagnosis and VTE history including diagnosis and treatment) and questioned about (1) any lifetime methods of contraception, (2) pregnancies and pregnancy outcomes, (3) use of assisted reproductive technology, (4) history of menorrhagia, and (5) how their AT diagnosis had impacted each reproductive health experience and how this impact made them feel (open-ended question). Results:Of 31 women with congenital AT deficiency, 18 (58%) were reached, 8 (26%) were not reachable and 5 (16%) were deceased. Of the 18 women who completed the survey, median age at AT deficiency diagnosis was 40 years (range 7 - 65). Twelve (67%) women had experienced a VTE; 2 and 5 women had VTE in the setting of pregnancy OCP use, respectively. Reported contraceptive methods included OCPs, intrauterine device (IUD), and male condoms. Of the 5 women diagnosed with AT deficiency while taking OCPs, three switched to IUD, one to condoms, and one did not report an alternative method of contraception. Fifteen (83% ) women reported at least one pregnancy (median number of pregnancies = 2; range 1 - 6). Of 42 total pregnancies among the 18 women, 33 (79%) resulted in live term birth, 3 (7%) in live preterm birth, and 6 (14%) in miscarriage/spontaneous abortion at a median of 12 weeks into the pregnancy. Four women (22%) reported the use of anticoagulation during pregnancy (presumed to be low molecular weight heparin, but most women could not specify), and 1 woman reported use of assisted reproductive technology leading to a successful pregnancy. Eleven women (61%) reported menorrhagia, 4 (36%) while on anticoagulation for VTE events. Ten of 18 women (56%) reported that the AT deficiency diagnosis had affected their reproductive health in at least one way. Patient-reported comments are presented in Table 1, and a "word cloud" diagram (an image composed of words from the women's comments regarding contraception), in which the size of each word indicates its frequency) is presented in Figure 1. Conclusion:Women with AT deficiency require careful multidisciplinary management to avoid complications in the settings of hormonal contraception and pregnancy. Many women reported that their reproductive health experiences were impacted by their diagnosis, but also reported successful pregnancy outcomes. Validated questionnaires should be developed to assess women's reproductive health experiences. Strategies for reproductive risk management should be discussed carefully, and patient involvement in reproductive decision-making is key in this population. Word Cloud depicting frequency of women's comments regarding AT deficiency and contraception Word Cloud depicting frequency of women's comments regarding AT deficiency and contraception Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract Background: Noonan syndrome, characterized by dysmorphic facies, webbed neck, short stature, chest deformity, developmental delay and congenital heart defects, occurs as a result of mutations affecting the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. A wide range of coagulation abnormalities are observed in these patients including: thrombocytopenia, platelet dysfunction and coagulation factor deficiencies. Screening for coagulation defects is recommended in childhood and especially prior to surgical procedures. Data available is limited and the extent of the hemostatic evaluation needed is not clearly defined. We carried out this study to outline the spectrum of coagulation abnormalities seen in patients with Noonan syndrome and their impact on surgical outcomes. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the electronic medical record system was queried for patients with Noonan syndrome seen at Mayo Clinic between 2000 and 2016. A detailed chart review was undertaken. Results i) Phenotypic correlates: 142 patients (58% male) met our study criteria, median age 21 years (range 14 days to 68 years). The referral specialty for initial evaluation was: cardiology 69 (49%), endocrinology 10 (7%), urology 10 (7%), neurology 8 (6%), pulmonary 6 (4%), orthopedic surgery 3 (2%), gastroenterology 2 (1%), psychiatry 2 (1%) and other specialties 4 (3%). Ten patients (7%) were referred for developmental delay, 13 (9%) for dysmorphism and 4 (3%) after having a family member diagnosed with Noonan syndrome. One patient (1%) presented with hematochezia. Twenty-seven (52%) of the 52 patients screened with genetic testing had a Noonan-associated gene defect. Bleeding was reported by 22 patients (15%) with a median International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Bleeding Assessment Tool (ISTH-BAT) score of 2 (range 1-8). Of those tested, 11/121 (9%) patients had thrombocytopenia (platelets < 150 x 10^9/L). Screening coagulation tests were done in 58 (41%) patients, and included PT/aPTT in 43 (74%) and extended coagulation panels (including platelet function studies) in 15 (26%). Of the 22 patients with history of bleeding, 20 (90%) had screening coagulation testing. Twenty-two (38%) of patients screened had one or more coagulation laboratory abnormality. Ten (66%) patients with clinically suspected platelet dysfunction had normal platelet function analyzer (PFA)-100 testing and normal light transmission aggregometry, while 5 (33%) had decreased platelet aggregation with epinephrine. Four patients (7%) (including 2 siblings) had low vWF levels consistent with type 1 vWD, 9 (16%) had mild clotting factor deficiencies ( FIX- 3, FXII-2 and multiple clotting factors-5) and 4 (7%) had a prolonged baseline PT and/or aPTT without additional coagulation factor assessment (Table 1). Thirteen patients (9%) had both a bleeding phenotype and abnormal coagulation laboratory results. ii) Surgical outcomes: A total of 274 surgical procedures were performed in 89 patients (63%). These included: cardiac 118 (43%), orthopedic 30 (11%), ENT 27 (10%), neurosurgical 26 (10%), abdominal 17 (6%), urologic 17 (6%), gynecologic 12 (4%) thoracic 8 (3%), ophthalmologic 7 (3%), plastic surgery 5 (2%), maxillofacial 4 (1%) and lymph node dissection 3 (1%). Platelets were utilized in 26 procedures (10%), fresh frozen plasma in 19 (7%) and cryoprecipitate in 7 (3%). Two procedures were performed in patients with type 1 vWD using vWF concentrates. Abnormal intra or postoperative bleeding was seen in 5/274 procedures (1.8%) performed in 4 patients. One patient had a known functional platelet disorder, one had normal PT and aPTT and two were not screened for coagulation defects. Bleeding was managed with transfusional supportive care in 3 (60%) surgical cases, while in 2 (40%) cases patients required re-intervention to achieve surgical hemostasis (bleeding from femoral access site and pacemaker pocket hematoma). There was no mortality related to the excess perioperative bleeding. Conclusion: Varying hemostatic abnormalities are seen in patients with Noonan syndrome, ranging from thrombocytopenia to multiple coagulation factor deficiencies. Frank bleeding manifestations however are uncommon and when present are usually mild. Clinical evaluation focused on the bleeding history and basic coagulation screening allows for successful perioperative hemostatic support and good surgical outcomes. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.