Prevalence Estimation of Dysfibrinogenemia Using the Clauss-CWA Approach.

INTRODUCTION: The actual prevalence of the qualitative fibrinogen abnormalities dysfibrinogenemia and hypodysfibrinogenemia is unknown. The major reasons are that patients with dysfibrinogenemia are frequently asymptomatic, and a recommended screening test, the Clauss fibrinogen assay, cannot completely distinguish qualitative from quantitative abnormalities. We previously established a high-throughput screening test (Clauss-CWA) to identify dysfibrinogenemia with high specificity and sensitivity by the Clauss fibrinogen assay alone.

AIM AND METHODS: This was a single-center, observational study to estimate the prevalence of dysfibrinogenemia using Clauss-CWA technology. A total of 25 471 patients in Nagoya University Hospital were screened to identify patients with suspected dysfibrinogenemia. The suspected patients were investigated by further confirmatory analyses, such as antigenic fibrinogen determination, reptilase time, fibrin polymerization analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Of the 25 471 enrolled patients, five with suspected dysfibrinogenemia were identified. Unfortunately, one patient was not confirmed due to a lack of plasma samples. The ratio of functional to antigenic fibrinogen was decreased, and the reptilase time was prolonged in the four patients. Interestingly, two of them showed normal functional fibrinogen levels due to acute inflammatory responses. Fibrin polymerization was impaired, and structural abnormalities were found in the fibrinogen from the patients. In some cases, functional fibrinogen levels may not be effective for identifying functional fibrinogen abnormalities. Further nationwide studies are needed to more precisely understand the epidemiology of dysfibrinogenemia.