Hypofibrinolysis, thrombophilia, osteonecrosis

In the context of additional characterization of the pathoetiologic associations of heritable hypofibrinolysis and thrombophilia with osteonecrosis of the hip, the authors assessed 15 women and 21 men at entry to a 12-week treatment study of the amelioration of Ficat Stages I or II osteonecrosis by low molecular weight heparin (Enoxaparin). All 36 patients had osteonecrosis of the hip; four patients had unifocal osteonecrosis, 25 patients had two joints affected, five had three affected joints, and two had four affected joints. In 11 of 15 women (73%), hyperestrogenemia of pregnancy (20%) or exogenous estrogen supplementation (53%) were associated with the development of osteonecrosis. Five gene mutations affecting coagulation and nine serologic coagulation tests were studied. Compared with control subjects, patients were more likely to have heterozygosity and homozygosity for the hypofibrinolytic 4G polymorphism of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene. Moreover, the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene product, plasminogen activator inhibitor activity, the major determinant of hypofibrinolysis, was 10 times more likely to be high (> 21.1 U/mL) in patients than in control subjects (31% versus 3%), with a median of 15.7 versus 6.3 U/mL. Compared with controls, patients were more likely to have the thrombophilic methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation. In addition, the thrombophilic methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene product, homocysteine, was four times more likely to be high (> 13.5 umol/L) in patients than in control subjects (20% versus 5%), with a median of 9.1 versus 7 umol/L. Twenty-three percent of patients had low levels (< 65%) of the thrombophilic free protein S versus 3% of control subjects. Patients were more likely than control subjects to have hypofibrinolytic high lipoprotein (a) (> or = 35 mg/dL), 33% versus 13%. Median lipoprotein (a) was higher in patients than in control subjects, 15 versus 5 mg/dL. Heritable hypofibrinolysis and thrombophilia, often augmented in women by hyperestrogenemia, seem to be major pathoetiologies of osteonecrosis. If the association between coagulation disorders and osteonecrosis reflects cause and effect, as postulated, then anticoagulation with Enoxaparin should be a promising therapy for patients with osteonecrosis.