Bernard-Soulier Syndrome

What is Bernard-Soulier Syndrome?

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome (BSS) also termed Giant Platelet syndrome is a rare platelet function disorder. It is an inherited platelet function disorder. Platelets are usually small structures in our blood that help the blood to clot after small injuries or due to the normal pressure of blood flow. In individuals with BSS, the platelet number is slightly reduced and they are unusually large when viewed under the microscope. People with BSS bruise easily and suffer from frequent nosebleeds. They also experience heavy and long duration of bleeds after even a minor trauma. People with BSS may also have tiny red or purple spots on the skin known as petechiae and purpura which occur due to blood leaking from blood vessel and are skin bleeds not blood clots.

BSS is rare and occurs in 1 in 1 million individuals. However, it may often go undiagnosed.

Patterns of Inheritance

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome is an inherited, genetic disorder. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern which means both parents carry a copy of the defective gene. The genes involved are GP1BA, GP1BB, GP5 and GP9.

In rare cases, BSS is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern where one copy of the defective gene is enough to cause the disease.

Pattern_Of_Inheritance — Image source: Pixabay

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome causes the following symptoms:

Easy bruising
Bleeding from the nose or gums
Excessive bleeding after minor traumatic episodes
Pain, warmth and swelling around joints where a bleed may have occurred
Frequent digestive issues
Women present with unusually heavy menstrual periods or prolonged bleeds during childbirth

Diagnosis

Is based on symptoms, patient’s clinical history, family history and a combination of laboratory tests and genetic tests:

Lab workup – giant platelets can be viewed structurally on a blood film under the microscope by a pathologist
Platelet aggregation studies
Flow cytometry can indicate abnormalities of platelet membrane glycoprotein
Molecular testing – to identify the defective gene mutation

Current Management

The mainstay treatment for Bernard-Soulier Syndrome is treating bleeding episodes during trauma and treatment during surgical procedures like dental work and surgeries.

Platelet transfusion with normal healthy platelets is required before and during surgeries to avoid heavy bleeding episodes. However, some patients with BSS become resistant to platelet transfusions as they develop antibodies against the normal glycoproteins which they lack naturally. To avoid these reactions, HLA-matched platelets must be used. If HLA-matched platelets are not available, leucocyte-depleted platelets should be used.

People with BSS must avoid aspirin and related drugs as these medicines lead to bleeding even in people with normal platelets. Acetaminophen can be used to manage pain. Antifibrinolytic agents can be used to reduce bleeding after trauma and surgeries. One commonly used antifibrinolytic agent is Tranexamic acid. Tranexamic acid should not be used if there is blood in the urine (called hematuria).

Investigational Therapies

In some patients with BSS, a drug known as Desmopressin acetate has been successful in reducing bleeding time. This drug is useful for minor bleeding episodes.

In the recent years, injection recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) has proved to be useful. Stem cell transplant is the final curative option for BSS.

investigationaltheraphy — Image source: Pixabay

References

Disease Videos

Bernard Soulier Syndrome

What is Bernard Soulier Syndrome?

Keywords

Bernard-Soulier Syndrome, Giant Platelet Syndrome, Petechiae, GP1BA, GP1BB, GP5, GP9, Flow Cytometry, Platelet Transfusion, Antifibrinolytic Agents, Tranexamic Acid, Desmopressin Acetate, Stem Cell Transplant

Bleeding Disorders