Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Feb 2017
Review Meta AnalysisRisk of intracranial hemorrhage associated with therapeutic anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in cancer patients can result from tumor bleeding and from antitumor and anticoagulation therapy. The effect of anticoagulation on the incidence of ICH in cancer patients has not been quantified. Our objective was to determine the risk of intracranial hemorrhage associated with anticoagulation therapy for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE). ⋯ After meta-analytic review of data published through August 2015, we conclude that therapeutic anticoagulation with LMWH given ≤6 months does not increase the risk of ICH in cancer patients compared to VKA. The risk of ICH in cancer patients is also similar to that of non-cancer patients. Available data were insufficient to determine if the ICH risk increase changes when the duration of anticoagulation is >6 months.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jan 2017
Observational StudyImpact of practice change in reducing venous thromboembolism in neurocritical overweight patients: 2008-2014.
Publications regarding early initiating venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis have been available since the early 1990s. These recommendations became available in current guidelines on and after 2012. The purpose of this study is to review the practice change in reducing the incidence of VTE in brain injury patients from 2008 to 2014. ⋯ In hospital LOS in days was 16 (10-26) vs. 7 (4-15); P < 0.01. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, only the time of the initiation VTE prophylaxis after admission was significantly associated with the occurrence of VTE (median, IQR) 70 h (37-158) vs. 36 h (20-63); OR 1.004, 95 % CI 1.001-1.007; P < 0.01. In this 6-year review of data, early initiation of VTE prophylaxis has decreased the incidence of VTE without clinically documented bleeding complications.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jan 2017
Evaluation of anticoagulation selection for acute venous thromboembolism.
Treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been confined to parenteral agents and oral vitamin K antagonists for decades; however, with the approval of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), clinicians now have more options. This study aims to evaluate the real world prescribing practices of all oral anticoagulants for VTE at a single center. A retrospective cohort analysis of all adult patients diagnosed with acute onset VTE was conducted. ⋯ This analysis showed that DOACs are being prescribed more than warfarin for treatment of new onset VTE. Renal and liver function may influence the agent prescribed. Utilization of DOACs may decrease the hospital length of stay.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Nov 2016
The use of anti-factor Xa monitoring in a selection of patients receiving enoxaparin at a large academic medical center.
Therapeutic enoxaparin is commonly used over heparin because of its favorable pharmacokinetic profile and ease of administration. Monitoring of the anticoagulant response, if necessary, is done with anti-factor Xa levels. Currently, it is suggested that monitoring may be beneficial in patients who are overweight and those with renal dysfunction. ⋯ Overall rates of anti-factor Xa monitoring was low. It was found that obese patients achieved therapeutic anticoagulation with lower than recommended doses; underweight patients were often subtherapeutic on the recommended doses; and patients with renal dysfunction tended to have therapeutic to subtherapeutic anti-factor Xa levels. Ultimately, this evaluation showed that enoxaparin has unpredictable pharmacokinetics in these three high-risk patient populations and anti-factor Xa monitoring may be necessary to ensure therapeutic levels and appropriate dosing.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Nov 2016
Direct oral anticoagulant use and the incidence of bleeding in the very elderly with atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for stroke in the elderly population. The use of anticoagulation in patients with AF greatly reduces the risk for stroke, but results in an increased risk of bleeding. Over the past several years, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban) have been used in place of warfarin for stroke prevention in AF. ⋯ HAS-BLED scores were similar for those patients who experienced bleeding complications compared to those who did not. 21 % of patients were prescribed an inappropriately low dose of DOAC based on approved recommendations. DOACs appear to be a safe form of anticoagulation in very elderly patients with AF. However, the decline in GFR among patients with major bleeding highlights the importance of routine renal function monitoring.