Abstract Warfarin is an oral anticoagulant prescribed to prevent and treat thromboembolic disorders. It has a narrow therapeutic window and must have its effect controlled. Prothrombin test, expressed in INR value, is used for dose management. Time in therapeutic range (TTR) is an important outcome of quality control of anticoagulation therapy and is influenced by several factors. The aim of this study was to identify genetic, demographic, and clinical factors that can potentially influence TTR. In total,422 patients using warfarin were investigated. Glibenclamide co-medication and presence of CYP2C9*2 and/or *3 alleles were associated with higher TTR, while amiodarone, acetaminophen and verapamil co-medication were associated with lower TTR. Our data suggest that TTR is influenced by co-medication and genetic factors. Thus, individuals in use of glibenclamide may need a more careful monitoring and genetic testing (CYP2C9*2 and/or *3 alleles) may improve the anticoagulation management. In addition, in order to reach and maintain the INR in the target for a longer period, it is better to discuss dose adjustment in office instead of by telephone assessment. Other studies are needed to confirm these results and to find more variables that could contribute to this important parameter.

Resumen: La hemofilia A (HA) es la coagulopatía ligada al cromosoma X más frecuente. Es causada por mutaciones en el gen del factor VIII (FVIII) de coagulación (F8). La HA puede ser severa cuando la actividad del FVIII es menor a 1% (FVIII: C<1IU/dL). Casi la mitad de las HA severas son producidas por inversiones del F8, como la del intrón 1 (Inv1) y del intrón 22 (Inv22). Los pacientes con HA severa experimentan sus primeros sangrados generales entre los 9,7 - 10,9 meses, ocurriendo principalmente en las articulaciones. Se investigó la presencia de la Inv1 e Inv22 en la región noreste de Uruguay (departamentos de Tacuarembó, Rivera y Cerro Largo) para estimar su frecuencia y detectar la presencia de portadoras. Fueron estudiados 14 individuos (ocho pacientes con HA severa, cuatro madres y dos hermanas de pacientes) de cinco familias. La investigación de las inversiones se realizó aplicando las pruebas de inverse shifting-PCR (IS-PCR). La Inv1 se encontró en dos pacientes (hermanos) de Tacuarembó, en su hermana y madre (portadoras), mientras que un paciente de Rivera y su madre (portadora) resultaron positivos para la Inv22. Preliminarmente, en conjunto, la Inv1 y la Inv22 representan la causa de la HA severa en el 40% de las familias del noreste de Uruguay, valor menor a lo esperado; sin embargo, debido a la reducida población estudiada, la Inv1 muestra una frecuencia preliminar (20%, 1/5 familias, 25%, 2/8 pacientes) considerablemente mayor a estudios previos. Estos datos permiten caracterizar la etiología genética de la hemofilia, la detección de las portadoras, conocer la distribución geográfica de las mutaciones y el asesoramiento genético.

Summary: Hemophilia A (HA) is the most common X-linked coagulopathy, it is caused by mutations in the coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) gene (F8). HA can be severe when the FVIII activity is less than 1% (FVIII: C <1IU / dL). Almost a half of the severe HAs are produced by inversions of F8, the intron 1 (Inv1) and intron 22 (Inv22). Patients with severe HA show their first general bleeding between 9.7 - 10.9 months, mainly in the joints. We researched the presence of Inv1 and Inv22 in the Northeast region of Uruguay (Departments: Tacuarembó, Rivera and Cerro Largo) to estimate their frequency and detect the presence of carriers. We studied 14 individuals in 5 different families (8 patients with severe HA, 4 mothers and 2 sisters of patients). The inversion study was carried out using inverse shifting-PCR (IS-PCR) tests. Inv1 was found in 2 patients (siblings) from Tacuarembó, in their sister and mother (carriers). A patient from Rivera and his mother (carrier) were positive for Inv22. Inv1 and Inv22 are the cause of severe HA in 40% of the patients in North East of Uruguay, less than expected; however, due to the reduced population studied, Inv1 shows a considerably higher frequency than previous studies. These data enable us to characterize the genetic etiology of hemophilia, to adequately monitor patients, detect carriers, the geographical distribution of mutations and the corresponding genetic counseling for families.

Resumo: A hemofilia A (HA) é a coagulopatia ligada ao cromossomo X mais frequente, causada por mutações no gene do fator VIII (FVIII) de coagulação (FVIII) (F8). A HA pode ser grave quando a atividade do FVIII é menor que 1% (FVIII: C <1IU / dL). Quase metade da HA grave é produzida por inversões de F8, como a do Íntron 1 (Inv1) e do Íntron 22 (Inv22). Pacientes com HA grave experimentam seu primeiro sangramento geral entre 9,7 e 10,9 meses, principalmente nas articulações. A presença de Inv1 e Inv22 na região nordeste do Uruguai (departamentos: Tacuarembó, Rivera e Cerro Largo) foi investigada para estimar a sua frequência e detectar a presença de portadora. Foram estudados 14 indivíduos (8 pacientes com HA grave, 4 mães e 2 irmãs de pacientes) de 5 famílias. A pesquisa das inversões foi realizada aplicando os testes de inverse shifting -PCR (IS-PCR). Encontramos Inv1 em 2 pacientes (irmãos) de Tacuarembó, na sua irmã e mãe (portadoras), enquanto 1 paciente de Rivera e sua mãe (transportadora) foram positivos para Inv22. Preliminarmente, Inv1 e Inv22 juntos representam a causa de HA grave em 40% das famílias do nordeste do Uruguai, valor inferior ao esperado, no entanto, devido à pequena população estudada, Inv1 mostra uma frequência preliminar (20%, 1/5 famílias, 25%, 2/8 pacientes) consideravelmente mais alta que os estudos anteriores. Esses dados permitem-nos caracterizar a etiologia genética da hemofilia, detectar aos portadores, conhecer a distribuição geográfica das mutações e realizar aconselhamento genético.

RESUMO Introdução: O desenvolvimento de anticorpos (inibidores) contra o fator exógeno é a principal complicação do tratamento de hemofilias. Tanto fatores genéticos quanto não genéticos estão relacionados com o surgimento dos inibidores. Entre os fatores genéticos, o tipo de mutação que originou a doença é um dos mais importantes. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram estabelecer a prevalência das inversões nos íntrons 1 e 22 do gene do fator VIII em pacientes com hemofilia A grave, correlacionando-a com o desenvolvimento de inibidores, bem como comparar os resultados encontrados com dados da literatura mundial. Método: Foram analisados pacientes hemofílicos A graves não aparentados quanto à presença da inversão no íntron 1 (n = 77) e da inversão no íntron 22 (n = 39), utilizando a técnica de reação em cadeia dapolimerase (PCR). A detecção do inibidor foi realizada pelo teste de mistura; a sua quantificação, pelo método de Bethesda. Resultados: As prevalências das inversões nos íntrons 1 e 22 foram de 2,6% e 41%, respectivamente. Nenhum paciente com a inversão no íntron 1 apresentou inibidores, enquanto 26,3% dos pacientes com a inversão no íntron 22 desenvolveram os anticorpos. Conclusão: O número reduzido de pacientes com a inversão no íntron 1 não permitiu a aplicação de teste estatístico para a correlação com o risco de desenvolvimento de inibidores. A inversão no íntron 22 do gene do fator VIII não se associou ao maior risco de desenvolvimento de inibidores na amostra analisada (p = 1).

ABSTRACT Objectives: The development of antibodies (inhibitors) against exogenous factors is the main complication in the treatment of hemophilia. Both genetic and non-genetic factors are related to inhibitor development. Among the genetic factors, the type of mutation that caused the disease is one of the most important. The objectives of the present study were to establish the prevalence of inversions in introns 1 and 22 of the factor VIII gene in patients with severe hemophilia A, correlating these with inhibitor development, and to compare the results with data from the literature. Method: Unrelated severe hemophilia A patients were analyzed for the presence of inversions in intron 1 (n = 77) and intron 22 (n = 39) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Detection of the inhibitor was performed by the mixing test and its quantification was performed by the Bethesda method. Results: The prevalence of inversions in introns 1 and 22 was 2.6% and 41%, respectively. No patient with inversions in intron 1 had inhibitors, whereas 26.3% of patients with inversions in intron 22 developed inhibitors. Conclusion: Due to the small number of patients with inversions in intron 1, it was not possible to perform a statistical test for the correlation with risk of inhibitor development. Inversions in intron 22 of the factor VIII gene were not associated with an increased risk of inhibitor development in the analyzed samples (p = 1).

RESUMEN Introducción: El desarrollo de anticuerpos (inhibidores) contra elfactor exógeno es la principal complicación del tratamiento de hemofilias. Tanto factores genéticos como no genéticos están relacionados con la aparición de los inhibidores. Entre los factores genéticos, el tipo de mutación que originó la enfermedad es uno de los más importantes. El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer laprevalencia de las inversiones en los intrones 1 y 22 del gen del factor VIII en pacientes con hemofilia A severa, relacionándola con el desarrollo de inhibidores, así como comparar los resultados encontrados con datos de la literatura en el mundo. Método: Pacientes con hemofilia A severa no emparentados fueron analizados cuanto a la presencia de inversión en el intrón 1 (n = 77) y de la inversión en el intrón 22 (n = 39), usando la técnica de reacción en cadena de lapolimerasa. La detección del inhibidor fue realizada por el estudio de mezclas; su cuantificación, por el método Bethesda. Resultados: La prevalencia de las inversiones en los intrones 1 y 22 fueron 2,6% y 41%, respectivamente. Ningúnpaciente con la inversión en el intrón 1 presentó inhibidores, mientras 26,3% de los pacientes con la inversión en el intrón 22 desarrollaron anticuerpos. Conclusión: El pequeno número de pacientes con inversión en el intrón 1 no permitió la aplicación de la prueba estadística para correlación con el riesgo de desarrollo de inhibidores. La inversión en el intrón 22 del gen del factor VIII no se asoció a un mayor riesgo de desarrollo de inhibidores en la muestra analizada (p = 1).

Our mutagenesis group has been studying with important economic drivers of our state, such as agriculture, the footwear and leather industry and open-cast coal mining. Working conditions in these sectors have potentially harmful to humans. The aim of these studies is to determine the health risk of workers by biomonitoring subjects exposed to genotoxic agents. The main results of our studies with vineyard farmers we observed a high rate of MN and DNA damage in individuals exposed to pesticides (p < 0.001). In addition, some effects of genetic polymorphisms in the modulation of MN results were observed in this group. Tobacco farmers were also evaluated at different crop times. The results showed a significant increase in the Damage index and frequency in tobacco farmers compared to the non-exposed group, for all crop times. The results for footwear and tannery workers showed a significant increase in the mean ID for the solvent-based adhesive (p < 0.001) group in comparison to the water-based adhesive group and control (p < 0.05). For open-cast coal mine workers, the EBCyt indicated a significant increase in nuclear bud frequency and cytokinetic defects in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group (p < 0.0001). We were able to associate specific genetic susceptibility with each type of exposure and with the non-use or improper use of personal protection equipment and diet adequacy. These results show how important the continuous education of exposed workers is to minimizing the effect of the occupational exposure and the risk of disease associated with the work.

The -1185A/G polymorphism in the 5'-regulatory region of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene was associated with VWF plasma levels in a normal population. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether there is a relationship between this polymorphism and type 1 von Willebrand disease (VWD), a disorder characterized by a quantitative deficiency of VWF. The association between this polymorphism and plasma VWF levels in normal Brazilian individuals was also analyzed. Control subjects (n = 460) and type 1 VWD patients (n = 41) were studied. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 864-bp VWF promoter region followed by AccII restriction-digestion was used to identify the -1185A/G genotypes. The -1185G allele frequency was 57% in normal individuals and 63% in type 1 VWD patients, this difference was not significant (p = 0.29). No significant association was observed between -1185A/G genotypes and VWF plasma levels in normal individuals, although VWF levels were in the same direction as those reported by another study, with subjects carrying the G allele having the lower levels. These results suggest that -1185A/G polymorphism is not associated with the partial deficiency of VWF in type 1 VWD patients.

OBJETIVO: determinar a freqüência de deficiência da proteína C (PC), proteína S (PS) e antitrombina (AT) e das mutações fator V Leiden (FVL), G20210A, no gene da protrombina (PTR), e C677T da metileno-tetraidrofolato redutase (MTFR) em crianças e adolescentes com trombose da veia porta (TVP), e definir o padrão hereditário de uma eventual deficiência. MÉTODOS: durante o período de dois anos, foi investigada a presença de distúrbios trombofílicos em 14 crianças e adolescentes (grupo 1) com TVP, seus pais (grupo 2, n = 25) e dois grupos controles constituídos, o primeiro, por crianças e adolescentes sem hepatopatia, pareados por idade com as crianças do grupo 1 (n = 28), e o outro, por pacientes com cirrose (n = 24). Os pacientes com TVP foram investigados do ponto de vista clínico, laboratorial, endoscópico e com biópsia de fígado. O diagnóstico da trombose foi realizado por ultra-sonografia abdominal com Doppler e/ou estudo angiográfico. RESULTADOS: a freqüência da deficiência de PC, PS e AT nos pacientes com TVP foi de 6/14 (42,9%) (p < 0,05 versus controles sem hepatopatia), 3/14 (21,4%) (p > 0,05) e 1/14 (7,1%) (p > 0,05), respectivamente. Nos pacientes com cirrose, a freqüência da deficiência de PC, PS e AT foi de 14/24 (58,3%), 7/24 (29,2%) e 11/24 (45,8%), respectivamente (p < 0,05 versus controles sem hepatopatia). A deficiência dessas proteínas não foi identificada nos pais dos pacientes com TVP e em nenhum controle sem hepatopatia. A mutação G20210A da PTR foi identificada em um paciente com TVP e em um controle sem hepatopatia (p = 0,999). A mutação C677T da MTFR foi observada na forma homozigótica, em 3/14 (21,4%) dos pacientes com TVP, e em 5/28 (17,9%) controles (p = 0,356). Em nenhum paciente ou controle sem hepatopatia, foi identificado o FVL. CONCLUSÕES: metade das crianças e adolescentes com TVP apresentou deficiência de uma ou mais proteínas inibidoras da coagulação, principalmente da proteína C, mas esta deficiência não parece ser de origem genética. Os distúrbios trombofílicos hereditários não representaram papel importante como causa da TVP nas crianças e adolescentes. Nos pacientes cirróticos, houve maior freqüência de deficiência das proteínas na presença de doença de maior intensidade.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the frequency of protein C, protein S and antithrombin deficiency, and factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T mutations in children and adolescents with portal vein thrombosis, as well as assessing the hereditary character of this disorders. METHODS: a two-year study was carried out to determine the frequency of thrombophilic disorders in children and adolescents with portal vein thrombosis (n = 14), their parents (n = 24), and two control groups, one age-matched children and adolescents free of liver disease (n = 28) and another group with cirrhosis (n = 24). The portal vein thrombosis patients were investigated by clinical and laboratory means, esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy and liver biopsies. The presence of portal vein thrombosis was assessed by Doppler ultrasonography and/or angiographic analysis. RESULTS: the frequency of protein C, protein S and antithrombin deficiency was 6/14 (42.9%) (p < 0.05 versus. controls), 3/14 (21.4%) (p > 0.05) and 1/14 (7.1%) (p > 0.05) of children and adolescents with portal vein thrombosis, respectively. The frequency of protein C, protein S and antithrombin deficiency in cirrhotic patients was 14/24 (58.3%), 7/24 (29.2%) and 11/24 (45.8%), respectively (p < 0.05 versus controls free of liver disease). None of the portal vein thrombosis parents or controls presented protein C, protein S or antithrombin deficiency. One portal vein thrombosis patient and one control (p = 0.999) presented prothrombin G20210A mutation. The homozygous form of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T mutation was observed in 3/14 (21.4%) patients with portal vein thrombosis and in 5/28 (17.9%) (p = 0.356) controls. None of the patients or controls presented the factor V Leiden. CONCLUSIONS: half of the children and adolescents with portal vein thrombosis presented deficiency of one or more coagulation inhibitor proteins, mainly protein C, but this deficiency does not seem to be an inherited condition. The hereditary prothrombotic disorders do not seem to play a vital role in thrombosis in patients with portal vein thrombosis of this study. In the cirrhotic patients, there was a higher frequency of protein deficiency when the disease was more intense.