Thromboelastography was developed by Dr. Hellmut Hartert in 1948, and the term was used to describe the trace produced from measuring the viscoelastic changes seen with fibrin polymerization. Thromboelastography allows the evaluation of clot formation from initialization into formation and stability. The two instruments currently available are: TEG® Hemostasis Analyzer (Haemonetics Corp, Braintree, MA, USA) and the ROTEM® (Tem International GmbH, Munich, Germany). The basic principle of thromboelastography involves incubation of whole blood or PRP in a heated sample cup into which is suspended a pin. The pin and the cup or the cup alone oscillates,

and as the blood clots, the motion selleck kinase inhibitor of the cup is transmitted to the pin which is recorded via a computer. There

are minor mechanical differences between the two instruments, and the activators used differ with respect to potency. In the TEG®, a sensor (pin) is connected with a torsion wire, and clot formation generates a physical connection between the cup and sensor, which is recorded via a mechanical-electrical transducer. In the ROTEM®, the pin (sensor) is fixed on the tip of a rotating shaft, whereas the sample cup is stationary and the position of the axis is detected by reflection of light on a small mirror on the axis. Therefore, the results differ from each other and are not comparable between instruments. Even though the method has not yet been fully standardized, there are more than 300 publications in the Alvelestat purchase field of thromboelastography and bleeding disorders. Its initial utility was to decrease the transfusion requirements in patients with complicated surgical procedures, but it has now expanded to include bleeding as well as thrombotic disorders. Thromboelastography has defined the phenotypic variation seen in patients with severe haemophilia both in adults and children[20,21]. Using this test, we were able to demonstrate a decrease MCE公司 in fibrin polymerization in haemophilia patients with increased clinical bleeding compared with those who had mild bleeding symptoms, although

the factor VIII levels were <1% in all cases[21]. This information can then be used to rationally tailor the treatment in each individual. Management of bleeding in haemophilia patients with inhibitors remains a great challenge. The greatest impact of thromboelastography in the field of haemophilia has been in the monitoring of by-passing agents, such as activated recombinant FVII (rFVIIa) and activated prothrombin complex concentrate (APCC’S). With thromboelastography, clot formation can be assessed to determine efficacy of by-passing agents, instead of measuring individual clotting factor activity. This has brought about the ability to assess haemostasis with product replacement therapy in such patients[22,23].