Emicizumab improves thrombus formation of type 2A von willebrand disease under high shear condition

Introduction: Type 2A von Willebrand disease (VWD) is common in type-2 group caused by qualitative deficiency of von Willebrand factor (VWF). Emicizumab is a bispecific antibody that mimics activated factor VIII (FVIIIa) cofactor function, and emicizumab prophylaxis substantially reduces bleeding in patients with haemophilia A. It is unknown whether emicizumab affects thrombus formation in type 2A VWD characterized by not only low FVIII levels but also the impaired platelet adhesion and aggregation.

Aim: To examine the coagulant potential of emicizumab in type 2A VWD.

Patients/methods: Perfusion chamber experiments combined with immunostaining were performed using whole blood from 5 patients with type 2A VWD under high shear condition (2500 s^-1 ).

Results: The addition of FVIII to type 2A VWD whole blood did not augment thrombus formation, whilst supplementation with VWF or FVIII/VWF enhanced. FVIII appeared to contribute to thrombus height rather than surface coverage. The addition of emicizumab enhanced thrombus formation in type 2A VWD compared with FVIII, but this potency was less than the presence of VWF. The effect on thrombus formation mediated by emicizumab appeared to be more rapid than that by FVIII for non-requirement of activation step of FVIII, whilst that by FVIII showed more impact on thrombus formation at the late phase.

Conclusion: Emicizumab-induced enhancing effects of thrombus formation, independent on VWF, may be useful as an alternative therapy for type 2A VWD patients. These results supported a critical role for the FVIII-VWF complex facilitating thrombus formation under high shear.