Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Apr 2007
Multicenter StudyDescriptive analysis of the process and quality of oral anticoagulation management in real-life practice in patients with chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the international study of anticoagulation management (ISAM).
Expert oral anticoagulation management is the key to good outcomes and is performed variably in different health care systems throughout the world. We set out to assess the quality of anticoagulation management in five countries in patients receiving vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke prophylaxis in chronic non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), and to compare the anticoagulation management practices in these countries. ⋯ Oral anticoagulation care varies considerably from country to country. Findings suggest that anticoagulation clinic care (ACC) may provide better outcomes as assessed by international normalized ratio (INR) time-in-range. Physicians tend to under treat more than over treat. Finally, documentation of care is often inadequate. Condensed Abstract Oral anticoagulation management (routine medical care or anticoagulation clinic care) was retrospectively assessed in 5 countries using a uniform, structured assessment tool. Major management differences were detected, especially between anticoagulation clinic care and routine care. Documentation was often a problem in the latter setting. Less time in therapeutic INR range was noted in routine medical care. Findings suggest that anticoagulation clinic care may provide better outcomes as assessed by international normalized ratio (INR) time-in-range. Physicians tend to under treat more than over treat. Finally, documentation of care is often inadequate.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Dec 2006
Evaluation of oxidative stress in the thrombolysis of pulmonary embolism.
To analyse leukocyte function parameters and oxidative stress (OS) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) treated with thrombolytics. ⋯ PE led to OS that was augmented following TL. Decreased adhesion molecule expression of circulating leukocytes in the early phase of TL reflects the pathological leukocyte endothelial cell interactions.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Dec 2006
Effect of renal function on argatroban therapy in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
Argatroban is considered to be an alternative anticoagulant of choice in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and renal impairment. The recommended initial dose in HIT is 2 microg/kg/min (0.5 microg/kg/min in hepatic impairment), adjusted to achieve activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTTs) 1.5-3 times baseline. Although argatroban is predominantly hepatically metabolized with minimal renal clearance, recent limited data have suggested that a patient's renal function should also be considered when initiating argatroban therapy for HIT. We retrospectively evaluated the effect of renal function on argatroban therapy in HIT patients with normal hepatic function, with the goal of refining dosing guidance, if needed. ⋯ We retrospectively evaluated the effect of renal function on argatroban therapy in HIT patients with normal hepatic function, with the goal of refining current dosing guidance, if needed. From previous prospective studies of argatroban in HIT, we identified 260 patients with clinically diagnosed HIT, normal hepatic function, and varying degrees of renal function. Among patients whose renal function was normal or mildly impaired (estimated creatinine clearance, CL(cr) > 60 ml/min); moderately impaired (CL(cr) 30-60 ml/min), or severely impaired (CL(cr) < 30 ml/min), no significant differences occurred in the argatroban dose, aPTT response, duration of therapy, or rates of thrombosis or major bleeding. By regression analysis, there was a clinically insignificant 0.1 microg/kg/min increase in dose for each 30 ml/min increase in CL(cr). Overall, argatroban administered in accordance with current recommendations provided adequate levels of anticoagulation and was well tolerated, supporting its use as an alternative anticoagulant of choice, without need for initial dose adjustment, in most patients with HIT and renal impairment.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2006
Randomized Controlled TrialExtended-duration thromboprophylaxis in acutely ill medical patients with recent reduced mobility: methodology for the EXCLAIM study.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in medical patients. Although thromboprophylaxis with enoxaparin reduces the risk of VTE in these patients, the optimal duration of therapy is not currently known. The EXCLAIM (EXtended CLinical prophylaxis in Acutely Ill Medical patients) study is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of extended-duration thromboprophylaxis using enoxaparin with the standard regimen of enoxaparin in acutely ill medical patients with recent reduced mobility. ⋯ The EXCLAIM study is designed to show the efficacy and safety of extended-duration thromboprophylaxis using enoxaparin in acutely ill medical patients with recent reduced mobility, which may potentially lead to a reduction in the incidence of late VTE events in these patients. The EXCLAIM (EXtended CLinical prophylaxis in Acutely Ill Medical patients) study, involving 4,726 acutely ill medical patients with recent reduced mobility, is designed to compare the efficacy and safety of extended-duration thromboprophylaxis using 40 mg once daily enoxaparin (38 +/- 4 days) with the standard regimen for enoxaparin (40 mg once daily for 10 +/- 4 days). The objective of this study is to demonstrate that the extended-duration enoxaparin regimen is an effective and safe thromboprophylaxis regimen out of hospital.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2006
Host-guest composites for induced hemostasis and therapeutic healing in traumatic injuries.
The United States military currently outfits our soldiers with a zeolite-based hemostatic agent (HA) that is applied directly onto a traumatic wound to induce hemostasis and prevent loss of life from exsanguination. The goals of this work were to identify and implement strategies to attenuate a tissue burning side effect associated with the HA, resulting from a large release of heat upon hydration, without adversely affecting the wound healing properties. Five ion exchanged derivatives of the parent HA were prepared and characterized with regard to their material and thermal properties, in vitro hemostatic efficacy, and antibacterial activity. ⋯ Two strategies for reducing the large amount of heat released by a zeolite-based HA during application have been described and quantified: (1) ion exchange and (2) prehydration. Five ion-exchanged derivatives of the original HA have been prepared and assayed for hemostatic efficacy both in vitro, by TEG, and in vivo, by clinical swine trials. Contact activation coagulation rates, alpha, were found to increase with the amount of heat released by the HA. In Vitro clot induction time, R, and HA surface area have been identified as predictors of in vivo hemostatic performance. A proposed rationale for selecting hemostatic materials based on these parameters will likely reduce the quantity of experiments involving animals, and the associated labor and capital costs, necessary to test a new HA. A method for incorporating antibacterial activity against gram negative P. aeruginosa into the Ag-exchanged formulation of zeolite LTA-5A has been described and substantiated.