The relation of device related thrombosis (DRT) and major bleeding after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) to laboratory thrombosis and hemostasis markers has not been studied. We performed a prospective case control study to identify clinical characteristics and laboratory markers in patients who developed DRT and major bleeding following WATCHMAN LAAC. Thromboelastography, platelet aggregation (PA), urinary 11-dehydrothromboxane B2 (UTX), fibrinogen, D-dimer, thrombin time and von Willebrand factor activity were determined at baseline, immediately following, and at 45 and 180 days post-LAAC (n = 32) and outcomes were followed for 1 year. Baseline characteristics and thrombogenic profiles of patients with and without DRT and/or BARC bleeding were compared. Mean age was 76 ± 8 years and CHADS2 VASc score was 4.4 ± 1.4. There were 3 DRTs (2 within 6 months, and 1 at 12 months), 4 Type 3A BARC bleeds, and 2 non-cardiac deaths. Patients with DRT had higher baseline thrombin-induced platelet-fibrin clot strength (68.0 ± 1.8 vs. 62.7 ± 4.7 mm, p = 0.06); FCS (35.6 ± 6.0 vs. 24.4 ± 6.6 mm, p = 0.009); and D-dimer (1712 ± 2330 vs. 283 ± 213 ng/mL, p = 0.001). At baseline, 5 patients had all 3 factors associated with high thrombotic risk and 2 experienced a DRT within 6 months. Patients with Type 3A BARC bleeding had lower baseline collagen-induced and 45-day ADP-induced PA (p < 0.01 for both). DRT following LAAC was associated with a baseline prothrombogenic profile whereas bleeding was associated with low platelet reactivity. These preliminary findings warrant further validation and have future implications on patient selection and adjunctive antithrombotic therapy following LAAC.Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03040622 .

Von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder and is caused by a quantitative (type 1 and 3) or qualitative (type 2) defect of Von Willebrand factor (VWF). Bleeding from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is not uncommon in VWD and is usually associated with angiodysplasia. We report herein on the management of a patient affected by VWD2B with severe GI bleeding secondary to gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) complicated by deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The current case demonstrated that the hemostatic balance, in RBDs under specific circumstances, can range from a tendency toward a hemorrhagic to normal or prothrombotic state. In these patients, a close collaboration between hematologists and surgeons can guarantee appropriate management in high-risk clinical scenarios.

POEMS syndrome (acronym consisting of: polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, M protein, and skin changes) is an uncommon disorder associated with an underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. There is no single specific test for POEMS, and due to its rarity and heterogeneity, patients are often mis- or underdiagnosed. Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, closely related to POEMS syndrome; ~11%-30% of POEMS patients are associated with concomitant CD. In contrast to frequently published reports on vascular events in POEMS syndrome affecting coronary arteries or lower limbs, cases of cerebrovascular events are rarely mentioned in literature. We hereby report a patient with POEMS syndrome accompanied by CD who presented recurrent strokes and splenic infarction.

BACKGROUND: Lumbar puncture (LP) is a common medical procedure for which no valid consensus exists in situations of hemorrhagic or thrombotic risk. The aim of this study was to identify the opinion-guided practices of LP at a national level.
METHODS: A national opinion survey on Internet. An anonymous questionnaire of 19 questions collecting information about the LP practice for patients with hemorrhagic or thrombotic risks.
RESULTS: We sent 632 e-mails with the link of the survey and obtained 211 responses in six weeks. None of the responses was unanimous for any of the 13 different clinical situations proposed. Six practices were reported as adopted by the majority of participants, six by more than one-third. Reports of practices were highly variable, particularly for the minimum platelets count accepted, for the management of patients taking two antiplatelet agents or newer anticoagulant agents.
CONCLUSIONS: These results underline the heterogeneity of practices and the lack of recommendations. The establishment of a clear consensus in this area seems essential to guide practices in the future. In order to increase the representativeness of our responses, the survey is still going on online and will be open for all practitioners who wish to participate (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hemopl).