The utility of International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis-Bleeding Assessment Tool and other bleeding questionnaires in assessing the bleeding phenotype in two platelet function defects

The main objective of this study is to investigate the utility of International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis-Bleeding Assessment Tool (ISTH-BAT) in comparison with the condensed form of Molecular and Clinical Markers for the Diagnosis and Management of type 1 and WHO BATs, in assessing bleeding in two well known and clinically significant platelet function defects. Thirty-eight patients previously diagnosed with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and 10 with Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) were analyzed. Bleeding scores were significantly higher than that of controls using both electronic bleeding questionnaire (eBQ) and ISTH-BAT with no significant difference between both tools. ISTH-BAT had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 100%, 76.2%, 0.9 and 1. This was closely similar to eBQ. Both ISTH-BAT and eBQ are efficient in BSS and Glanzmann's thrombasthenia. However, given the ISTH recommendation, ISTH-BAT should be adopted. Larger study including other platelet defects will enhance its utility and support the integration of bleeding scores with standardized laboratory testing to allow for a universal diagnostic approach to patients with suspected bleeding disorders.