Thrombosis research
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Thrombosis research · Jan 2003
ReviewPrevalence and prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD.
Little information exists on the prevalence and prevention of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients admitted for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Despite a substantial lack of consistent data, VTE appears as a major threat to patients admitted for acute exacerbation of COPD, and pharmacologic prophylaxis should be considered in all high risk situations. However, methodologically rigorous studies in this setting are still needed.
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Thrombosis research · Jan 2003
Comparative StudyDextran sulfate included in factor Xa assay reagent overestimates heparin activity in patients after heparin reversal by protamine.
A lack of correlation between activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), thrombin time (TT) and anti-factor Xa (AXa) activity was observed in patients after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CBP). Indeed, AXa activity measured by the chromogenic assay, Coamatic Heparin, was higher than expected with regard to results obtained in coagulation assays. To account for this discrepancy, another AXa chromogenic assay was tested. ⋯ We therefore performed in vitro studies consisting in neutralizing unfractionated heparin (UFH) with protamine and measuring AXa activity with the two chromogenic assays. An AXa activity was still measurable with Coamatic Heparin after neutralization, thus strongly suggesting that dextran sulfate dissociates protamine/heparin complexes. We conclude that Coamatic Heparin assays should be avoided when measuring AXa activity in plasma samples immediately after protamine infusion, as inaccurate results may lead to inadequate management of heparin reversal.
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Thrombosis research · Jan 2003
Does the anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibody provide additional information in patients with thrombosis?
To investigate whether the anti-beta(2)-glycoprotein I (anti-beta(2)GPI) antibody may provide additional information in patients with thrombosis in conjunction with the lupus anticoagulant (LAC) or anticardiolipin (aCL) antibody. ⋯ Single positivity for anti-beta(2)GPI explained 9.2% of thrombotic events in the absence of LAC or aCL. Double or triple positivity for aPLs were associated with a higher rate of thrombosis than single positivity for aPL. Our results suggest that anti-beta(2)GPI provides additional information in patients with thrombosis in conjunction with LAC or aCL.
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Thrombosis research · Jan 2003
Comparative StudyThe outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis delivers cost savings to patients and their families, compared to inpatient therapy.
The outpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has been shown to be cost-effective from the perspective of a third party payer. The aim of this study is to determine if some or all of these cost savings to third party payers are shifted to patients and their families. ⋯ The outpatient treatment of DVT does not result in any net shifting of costs to patients and their families, and further, brings about cost savings. Given the cost savings associated with and the preference of patients for outpatient care, this study further supports the shift of DVT therapy from the inpatient unit to the outpatient clinic.
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Thrombosis research · Jan 2003
Comparison of turbidimetric aggregation and in vitro bleeding time (PFA-100) for monitoring the platelet inhibitory profile of antiplatelet agents in patients undergoing stent implantation.
The present study compared classical ADP-induced platelet aggregation vs. PFA-100 closure times using collagen/ADP membrane cartridges to monitor the degree of platelet-inhibiting effect of three drug regimens: ticlopidin, abciximab/ticlopidin and loading dose clopidogrel, each on top of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA) during and after elective stent placement (intervention) in a total of 31 patients with acute coronary syndrome. Ticlopidin was started directly after stent implantation, abciximab was started before coronary intervention and given intravenously for 12 h, and a clopidogrel loading dose was given before intervention. ⋯ Both measurement of PFA-100 closure times and inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation showed a similar degree of platelet inhibition, but had rather broad SD ranges, which limit their precision for the follow-up of individual patients. In conclusion, abciximab on top of ticlopidin/aspirin showed a stronger antiplatelet effect for only less than 20 h, as compared to loading dose clopidogrel/aspirin in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing stent implantation. Whether such a short-term superiority of abciximab, as compared to loading dose clopidogrel, translates into an overall clinical benefit of thombotic and bleeding complications remains to be established in a randomized clinical trial.