Thromb Haemostasis
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The use of warfarin with a range INR of 2.0-3.0 is recommended in prevention of stroke for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, in particular those older than 75 years. The risk of bleeding that is associated with this range of INR has led to evaluate lower ranges (low-dose or fixed minidose) in terms of risks and benefits. A meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials evaluating 'low-intensity' 'minidose' or 'low-dose anticoagulant' treatment for prevention of thromboembolic events in AF was conducted by two independent reviewers. ⋯ Inversely lower dose did not statistically decrease the risk for major hemorrhage compared to adjusted-dose: RR adjusted-dose vs lower dose: 1.23 (95% CI; 0.67-2.27). The RR was 0.97 (95 % CI 0.27-3.54) for hemorrhagic death. Our meta-analysis showed that adjusted-dose compared with low-dose or minidose warfarin therapy (INR < or =1.6) was more effective to prevent ischemic thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation.
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Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a common phenomenon in patients with sepsis, but the clinical implications of this condition are not clear. Clinical trials with coagulation inhibitors have failed to show a significant benefit concerning survival. DIC is primarily a laboratory diagnosis, based on the combination of elevated fibrin-related markers (FRM), with decreased procoagulant factors and platelets. ⋯ No randomized trials demonstrating effective therapies in consumption coagulopathy have been published. Bleeding patients with consumption coagulopathy are most frequently treated with platelet transfusions and various plasma products including fresh frozen plasma and coagulation factor concentrates. Based on case reports, treatment with drotrecogin alfa (activated) or substitution of protein C have been recommended for adjuvant treatment of sepsis-related purpura fulminans.
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Our goal was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of C-reactive protein (CRP) alone or combined with clinical probability assessment in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), and to compare its performance to a D-dimer assay. We conducted a prospective study in which we performed a common immuno-turbidimetric CRP test and a rapid enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) D-dimer test in 259 consecutive outpatients with suspected PE at the emergency department of a teaching hospital. We assessed clinical probability of PE by a validated prediction rule overridden by clinical judgment. ⋯ Due to the low prevalence of PE (9%) in this subgroup, the NPV increased to 97% (95% CI: 89 to 100%). The D-dimer (cutpoint 500 micro g/l) showed a sensitivity of 100% (95% CI: 95 to 100%) and a NPV of 100% (95% CI: 94 to 100%) irrespective of clinical probability and accurately rule out PE in 56 (22%) patients. Standard CRP tests alone or combined with clinical probability assessment cannot safely exclude PE.
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Platelets and leukocytes can form heterotypic aggregates. We studied how shear stress influences platelet-leukocyte aggregation (PLA). Shear stress was applied to hirudinized blood, using a cone-and-plate(let) analyzer. ⋯ In conclusion, shear stress per se enhances PLA formation. With agonist stimulation, shear stress enhances PLA formation primarily mediated by integrins, but attenuates PLA formation primarily mediated by P-selectin. The present results indicate that P-selectin-mediated bridging is essential for the initiation of PLA formation, while integrin-bridgings contribute importantly to the stability of heterotypic conjugates under high shear stress.