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The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well
Published on: February 27, 2026
Thrombin generation as an intermediate phenotype for venous thrombosis.
Olivier Segers1, René van van Oerle, Hugo ten ten Cate
1Department of Biochemistry, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis
|January 12, 2010
Summary
The thrombin generation assay detects genetic variations impacting blood clotting. This assay is a promising tool for identifying new genetic risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Area of Science:
- Coagulation science
- Genetics
- Thrombosis research
Background:
- In vitro thrombin generation assays measure plasma coagulation potential.
- This potential correlates with venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk.
- Thrombin generation may serve as an intermediate phenotype for genetic dissection of VTE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if thrombin generation assays can detect haemostatic balance changes.
- To assess the impact of common genetic variations on coagulation factors and inhibitors.
- To validate the thrombin generation assay as a tool for genetic VTE research.
Main Methods:
- Study population: 140 healthy individuals.
- Genotyping for F5 Leiden, F2 G20210A, and 19 additional haemostasis-related SNPs.
- Statistical analysis of SNP associations with protein levels and thrombin generation parameters (lag time, peak height, ETP).
Main Results:
- Common SNPs, beyond F5 Leiden and F2 G20210A, significantly affected thrombin generation.
- Specific SNPs (FGA A1069G, F2 A19911G, F10 IVS2 C+517G, F12 C-46T, TFPI T-287C, TFPI IVS7 T-33C) demonstrated significant associations.
- These variations altered parameters like ETP and peak height under various assay conditions (e.g., +/- APC, low TF).
Conclusions:
- The thrombin generation assay is sensitive to genetic variations in haemostasis-related genes.
- This sensitivity supports its utility in identifying novel genetic risk factors for VTE.
- The assay provides a valuable phenotype for genetic studies of coagulation disorders.
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