Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis
-
J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Feb 2020
ReviewDirect oral anticoagulants: a review on the current role and scope of reversal agents.
New guideline recommendations prefer direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin in DOAC-eligible patients with atrial fibrillation and patients with venous thromboembolism. As expected with all antithrombotic agents, there is an associated increased risk of bleeding complications in patients receiving DOACs that can be attributed to the DOAC itself, or other issues such as acute trauma, invasive procedures, or underlying comorbidities. For the majority of severe bleeding events, the widespread approach is to withdraw the DOAC, then provide supportive measures and "watchful waiting" with the expectation that the bleeding event will resolve with time. ⋯ Until recently, the lack of specific reversal agents, has affected the uptake of these agents in clinical practice despite a safer profile compared to warfarin in clinical trials. In cases of life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding or when patients require emergency surgery or urgent procedures, idarucizumab has been recently approved for reversal of anticoagulation in dabigatran-treated patients and andexanet alfa for factor Xa inhibitor-treated treated patients. The current review summarizes the current clinical evidence and scope of these agents with the potential impact on DOAC use in clinical practice.
-
J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jan 2020
Clinical TrialRight ventricular dysfunction is superior and sufficient for risk stratification by a pulmonary embolism response team.
Several risk stratification tools are available to predict short-term mortality in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The presence of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality and may be a more efficient way to stratify risk for patients assessed by a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT). We evaluated 571 patients presenting with acute PE, then stratified them by the pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI), by the BOVA score, or categorically as low risk (no RV dysfunction by imaging), intermediate risk/submassive (RV dysfunction by imaging), or high risk/massive PE (RV dysfunction with sustained hypotension). ⋯ In patients with RV dysfunction, the predicted short-term mortality by PESI score or BOVA stage was lower than the observed mortality by a two-fold order of magnitude. The presence of RV dysfunction alone in the context of acute PE is sufficient for the purposes of risk stratification. More complicated risk stratification tools which require the consideration of multiple clinical variables may under-estimate short-term mortality risk.
-
J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jan 2020
Age-related burden and characteristics of embolic stroke of undetermined source in the real world clinical practice.
Few data are available on age-related burden and characteristics of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) in the real world clinical practice. The aim of our study was to provide information about it. We retrospectively analyzed data of patients consecutively admitted to our Stroke Unit along 1 year (2017, November 1st-2018, October 31st). ⋯ After diagnostic work-up, patent foramen ovale was most commonly associated with ESUS (17.9%), especially in patients < 65 years (62.5%); covert paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was detected in 10.5% of ESUS patients ≥ 75 years. In the real world clinical practice, the frequency of ischemic strokes of undetermined etiology, and of those satisfying ESUS criteria, is not negligible, especially in younger patients. A thorough diagnostic work-up, with an age-specific approach, is therefore necessary and of the utmost importance for the identification of stroke etiology, in order to optimize secondary stroke prevention strategies.
-
J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jan 2020
Case ReportsProlonged activated partial thromboplastin time after prophylactic-dose unfractionated heparin in the post-operative neurosurgical setting: case series and management recommendations.
Primary brain tumors, both benign and malignant, pose a high risk of perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to the development of a prothrombotic state. Perioperative pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis with subcutaneous (SC) unfractionated heparin (UFH) has significantly reduced VTE associated morbidity. ⋯ These cases demonstrate the uncertain kinetics of SC UFH and effect on aPTT, suggesting the significance of routine aPTT monitoring in high-risk settings. Given the wide variation in presentations of therapeutic or supratherapeutic values of aPTT in the perioperative neurosurgical setting, we propose a practical standardized approach to the evaluation and management of aPTT prolongation following prophylactic SC UFH administration.
-
J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jan 2020
Meta Analysis Comparative StudyShort-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) followed by P2Y12 monotherapy versus traditional DAPT in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: meta-analysis and viewpoint.
The optimal duration dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is subject to debate. A short-duration DAPT (one month to three months) followed by P2Y12 monotherapy instead of standard 6 to 12 months DAPT followed by aspirin monotherapy after PCI has been suggested. We meta-analyzed studies comparing short-term (≤ 3 months) DAPT followed by P2Y12 monotherapy versus standard DAPT in patients after PCI. ⋯ The experimental treatment with P2Y12 monotherapy after very short-term DAPT was not superior to standard DAPT. Our meta-analysis adds insight that DAPT might be safely shortened in selected patient strategies. However, DAPT remains the gold standard for antithrombotic treatment after PCI.