Phenotype, genotype, and laboratory assessment of congenital fibrinogen disorders: Data from the Rare Bleeding disorders in the Netherlands study

Abstract

Introduction

Congenital fibrinogen disorders (CFDs), encompassing quantitative (hypo−/afibrinogenemia) and qualitative (dysfibrinogenemia) defects, can result in bleeding or thrombotic events. This study aimed to enhance understanding of the clinical and genetic characteristics of CFD patients.

Methods

The Dutch cross-sectional RBiN study included 47 CFD patients (median age 38, 55 % women), categorized into (hypo)dysfibrinogenemia, severe (<500 mg/L), moderate (500–1000 mg/L) and mild hypofibrinogenemia (1000–1800 mg/L) as well as carriers with pathogenic variants but normal fibrinogen levels (>1800 mg/L). Clinical assessments included bleeding phenotype, thrombosis history, fibrinogen activity and antigen levels, thrombin and plasmin generation assays and genotypic analysis.

Results

Patients with severe hypofibrinogenemia displayed the highest median ISTH-BAT score (16), followed by moderate hypofibrinogenemia (11), (hypo)dysfibrinogenemia (6), mild hypofibrinogenemia (4) and carriers (0). Female-specific bleeding (postpartum hemorrhage, heavy menstrual bleeding) was prevalent across all CFD subtypes, with moderate hypofibrinogenemia showing high average scores on these ISTH-BAT items (3.0 and 2.3). Postoperative bleeding was common in moderate and severe hypofibrinogenemia (average ISTH-BAT item scores of 2.5 and 2.8, respectively). Patients with biallelic variants had lower fibrinogen activity levels (median 200 mg/L) than those with monoallelic variants (935 mg/L, p < 0.001). Fibrinogen activity levels correlated positively with plasmin peak height (R = 0.74, p < 0.001) and inversely with thrombin potential (R = –0.55, p = 0.002). Thrombin potential was 1.77-fold higher in patients with a venous thrombosis history (n = 5, p = 0.03) than in healthy controls.

Conclusions

In patients with CFDs, postoperative bleeding correlates with fibrinogen activity, while female-specific bleeding affects all CFD subtypes. Elevated thrombin generation might explain thrombosis risk in these patients.