Clinical Research Directory

PLATELET Function Assay With Flow Imaging on ImageSTREAM Cytometer

Platelets are essential blood elements to maintain hemostasis. Quantitative or qualitative defects can be responsible of hemorrhagic (platelet disorders) or thrombotic (heparin induced thrombocytopenia \[HIT\]) troubles. Diagnosis of these pathologies is sometimes urgent and consists in delicate platelet functional assays that are mostly made in expert centers. These platelets functional assays measure platelets activation and/or aggregation in response to diverse inductors and may lack sensitivity. The investigators would like to propose a new diagnostic tool with the use of imaging flow cytometry which provides much more information than classic cytometer on cell morphology thanks to images collected by the optical channel of the ImageStream cytometer. The use of this cytometer offers an innovative approach. This study is a monocentric prospective and non-interventional study. The investigators will analyze patient samples with the ImageStream cytometer and reference laboratory tests (light transmission aggregometry and serotonin release assay) in parallel and compare results from the different techniques. This new diagnostic technique will demonstrate a non-inferiority diagnosis compared to reference tests and maybe a better sensibility.

ATHN Transcends: A Natural History Study of Non-Neoplastic Hematologic Disorders

In parallel with the growth of ATHN's clinical studies, the number of new therapies for all blood disorders is increasing significantly. Some of the recently FDA-approved therapies for congenital and acquired hematologic conditions have not yet demonstrated long-term safety and effectiveness beyond the pivotal trials that led to their approval. In addition, results from well controlled, pivotal studies often cannot be replicated once a therapy has been approved for general use.2,3,4,5 In 2019 alone, the FDA has issued approvals for 24 new therapies for congenital and acquired hematologic conditions.6 In addition, almost 10,000 new studies for hematologic diseases are currently registered on www.clinicaltrials.gov.7 With this increase in potential new therapies possible, it is imperative that clinicians and clinical researchers in the field of non-neoplastic hematology have a uniform, secure, unbiased, and enduring method to collect long-term safety and efficacy data. As emphasized in a recently published review, accurate, uniform and quality national data collection is critical in clinical research, particularly for longitudinal cohort studies covering a lifetime of biologic risk.8

Italian Study for Congenital Platelet Disorders

Inherited platelet disorders (IPD) are a heterogeneous group of rare bleeding diseases associated with a reduction of platelet number and/or function and with a bleeding tendency ranging from mild to severe. The frequency of inherited thrombocytopenias has been estimated to be 2.7/100,000 while the prevalence of inherited platelet function disorders is unknown, partly because they are frequently overlooked due to their difficult diagnosis.

Towards Improved Diagnostics for Suspected Platelet Function Disorders

This study aims to improve platelet function testing during bleeding investigations. To this end, the study will evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of novel platelet function tests in patients with confirmed or suspected platelet function disorders. Study participants will be recruited from patients that are referred to or treated at the Coagulation Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, and Pediatric Coagulation Unit, Astrid Lingren Children's Hospital.