Predicting anticoagulant-related bleeding in patients with venous thromboembolism: a clinically oriented review

External validation of a prognostic score to identify low-risk outpatients with acute deep venous thrombosis in the lower limbs

BACKGROUND

Current clinical guidelines suggest home treatment for patients diagnosed with acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT). A prognostic score has been proposed to identify low-risk patients; however, its validation remains limited.

METHOD

This prospective observational study aimed to externally validate the prognostic score in selecting low-risk outpatients with acute DVT in the lower limbs. Consecutive outpatients diagnosed with acute DVT in a tertiary hospital were included. The score included 6 variables: heart failure, kidney failure, recent major bleeding, altered platelet count, immobilization, and cancer. The primary outcome was the incidence of a composite outcome, including confirmed diagnosis of PE, major bleeding, or all-cause death at 7 days. Patients meeting zero criteria were considered low risk.

RESULTS

Among the 1035 patients included, 485 (46.9 %) met zero criteria. Of these, 0.2 % (95 % CI 0.0-1.1 %) and 0.4 % (95 % CI, 0.0-1.5 %) patients experienced the composite outcome at 7 and 30 days, respectively. Among patients who met 1 or more criteria for admission, 344 patients (62.5 %) were discharged. Among these, the composite outcome at 7 and 30 days occurred in 2 (0.6 %) and 5 (1.4 %) patients, respectively. The C-statistics of the score were 0.68 (95 % CI, 0.57-0.79) and 0.69 (95 % CI, 0.64-0.76) at 7 and 30 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the efficacy of the prognostic score in identifying low-risk outpatients with acute DVT. It also suggests that a considerable proportion of patients with acute DVT may benefit from outpatient treatment despite having some risk criteria, highlighting the potential for optimizing ambulatory care pathways.

Role of Cytokines in Predicting Early Major Bleeding in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism

INTRODUCTION

Anticoagulant therapy is critical for venous thromboembolism (VTE) management, though bleeding remains a major concern, ranging from mild to fatal events. This study aimed to assess the predictive value of cytokines for major bleeding in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

METHODS

In this prospective, observational study, patients aged ≥ 18 years with acute PE were enrolled from April 2021 to September 2022 and followed for 30 days. Exclusion criteria included asymptomatic PE, VTE without PE, and chronic anticoagulation. Major bleeding was defined as bleeding that required ≥ 2 transfused units of red blood cells, occurred in critical areas, or was fatal. Blood samples were collected at diagnosis to measure IL-6, IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha. Statistical analyses used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

Out of 191 patients (mean age 68.6 years, 52.9% male), 8.4% died, and 4.2% experienced major bleeding within 30 days. IL-8 > 40 pg/mL and TNF-alpha > 8.5 pg/mL were linked to major bleeding. IL-8 > 40 pg/mL independently predicted early major bleeding (adjusted OR 9.40; 95% CI 1.38-63.69). Cox regression showed HRs of 12.60 for IL-8 and 5.61 for TNF-alpha.

CONCLUSION

High IL-8 levels at diagnosis were predictive of major bleeding in acute PE patients. Further studies are required to confirm these findings.

A novel role for protein disulfide isomerase ERp18 in venous thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies using genetically modified mouse models and inhibitors have shown that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family plays a significant role in arterial thrombosis. However, their role in venous thrombosis remains unknown. In this study, using gene-modified mouse models, we determined whether PDI family members contribute to venous thrombosis.

METHODS

Mice deficient of the PDI family members, including PDI, PDIp, ERp57, PDIr, ERp5, ERp27, ERp29, TMX4, ERdj5, and ERp18, were generated. The venous thrombosis phenotype of these deficient strains was evaluated using an inferior vena cava (IVC) stenosis model. Moreover, the recombinant human ERp18 (rhERp18) protein was generated and its reductase activity was assessed using a Di-E-GSSG method. The effect of ERp18 in venous thrombosis was tested in the IVC stenosis model. The levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) at the site of venous thrombi were measured.

RESULTS

The mice deficient in PDI, PDIp, ERp57, PDIr, ERp5, ERp27, ERp29, TMX4, and ERdj5 had no effects on venous thrombosis in the IVC stenosis model. However, the mice lacking ERp18 developed significantly less venous thrombosis compared with the WT mice. ERp18 contains one CGAC active motif. When WT or ERp18-KO mice received injection of rhERp18-WT or inactive rhERp18-mutant (Mut) protein whose CGAC was mutated to SGAS, rhERp18-Mut protein inhibited venous thrombosis in the IVC stenosis model, suggesting that the role of ERp18 is dependent on its enzymatic activity. As determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence staining, the levels of vWF in the plasma at the site of venous thrombus in ERp18-KO mice were significantly lower than those in WT mice.

CONCLUSION

ERp18 enhances the development of venous thrombosis, and its function and its enzymatic activity and regulation of the vWF release are involved.

Long-term monitoring and treatment of venous thromboembolic disease: recommendations of the Thromboembolic Disease Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine 2024

Venous thromboembolim (VTE) is a highly prevalent condition that requires long-term monitoring and treatment. This monitoring includes: 1) completing the etiological study and determining the risk of VTE recurrence; 2) establishing the optimal duration of anticoagulant treatment, as well as the type of therapy and its dosage; 3) estimating the risk of bleeding, and 4) identifying the occurrence of chronic complications. This consensus document, prepared by the VTE Group of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), aims to update and establish consensus recommendations on these aspects. The document focuses on four aspects of management: the first includes risk factors for VTE recurrence after an unprovoked VTE episode and describes the predictive scores of VTE recurrence; the second focuses on risk factors for bleeding; the third provides recommendations for long-term follow-up in VTE, addressing specific considerations for screening chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and post-thrombotic syndrome of the lower limbs; and the fourth provides guidance on the optimal duration of extended anticoagulant treatment, as well as the type of therapy and its dosage. For each area, an exhaustive literature review was conducted, analyzing the updated VTE clinical guidelines and recent studies. This document is intended to be a guide in the long-term management of VTE based on the most current knowledge.

Venous thromboembolism: Exploring incidence and utility of screening in spinal cord injury

Objective: To assess the incidence and possible risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients admitted to a SCI rehabilitation center.Design: Retrospective review.Setting: Acute neurorehabilitation hospital specializing in SCI.Methods: Records of 228 consecutive admissions were reviewed. All patients received screening four limb ultrasounds on admission. Charts were reviewed to determine whether VTE was diagnosed at the acute care hospital or in the rehabilitation center; either on admission screening or later in the rehabilitation stay. Charts were reviewed to identify potential risk factors for VTE as well as the incidence of bleeding complications in patients on full anticoagulation.Results: In this cohort, 115 deep venous thromboses (DVTs) were identified in the following settings: 27% in acute care [n = 31], 70% on admission to rehabilitation [n = 80], and 24% during the rehabilitation stay [n = 28]. Of those on therapeutic anticoagulation due to admission diagnosis of VTE [n = 63], 12.7% developed recurrent DVT and 9.5% had bleeding complications. Of those who were initiated and continued on therapeutic anticoagulation, there was zero incidence of PE. Risk factors for the development of VTE included age, body mass index (BMI), rehabilitation length of stay, injury etiology, spinal cord-related surgery, and history of inferior vena cava filter.Conclusions: DVT was identified in 70% of this cohort with screening ultrasound on admission to rehabilitation and of those initiated and continued on therapeutic anticoagulation, none developed PE, while 9.5% had bleeding complications. Given the findings of this study, prospective research in noninvasive vascular ultrasound screening for VTE should be considered.

Recombinant neorudin and its active metabolite hirudin: the fate in vivo of a novel anticoagulant drug

Thrombosis, a prevalent condition, can provoke severe health issues like acute coronary syndrome (ACS), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE). The rising incidence of these diseases annually significantly impacts patient wellbeing and poses a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Recombinant neorudin is a developing anticoagulant drug for thrombotic diseases whose phase I clinical trials has been completed. The distribution pattern of it and its active metabolite, hirudin, in thrombi, blood surrounding the thrombus and peripheral blood remains uncertain. This study explored their distribution using a rat arteriovenous bypass thrombosis model, revealing higher neorudin levels in blood surrounding the thrombus and elevated hirudin concentrations in thrombus. Recombinant neorudin significantly increased Thrombin Time (TT) in both plasma surrounding the thrombus and peripheral blood, and reduced the wet weight of the thrombus. The results above demonstrated the anticoagulant and antithrombotic efficacy of recombinant neorudin in vivo. Give the distribution pattern of neorudin and hirudin, we hypothesized that neorudin was cleaved at the site of thrombus formation to produce hirudin, leading to the rapid accumulation of hirudin within local thrombi and resulting in a higher concentration inside the thrombus. This insight was crucial for understanding the action mechanisms of anticoagulants in thrombosis management and provided a valuable guidance for therapeutic strategies in treating thrombotic diseases.

Evaluation of soluble P-selectin as a predictive biomarker in acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism: Insights from a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis with interesting results. However, its role in predicting early mortality in pulmonary embolism (PE) remains unexplored.

METHODS

This observational, prospective, single-center study enrolled consecutive patients aged 18 or older with confirmed acute symptomatic PE and no prior anticoagulation. The study aims to assess the prognostic capacity of sP-selectin measured at the time of PE diagnosis for short-term mortality and major bleeding.

RESULTS

A total of 196 patients, with a mean age of 69.1 years (SD 17), were included, of whom 52.6% were male. Within 30 days, 9.7% of patients (n = 19) died, and 5.1% (n = 10) suffered major bleeding. PE risk stratification revealed 4.6% (n = 9) with high-risk PE, 34.7% (n = 68) with intermediate-high-risk PE, 38.3% (n = 75) with intermediate-low-risk PE, and 22.5% (n = 44) with low-risk PE according to the European Society of Cardiology score. Mean plasma sP-selectin levels were comparable between survivors and non-survivors (489.7 ng/mL ±63 vs. 497.3 ng/mL ±51; p = .9). The ROC curve for 30-day all-cause mortality and major bleeding yielded an AUC of 0.49 (95% CI 0.36-0.63) and 0.46 (95% CI 0.24-0.68), respectively. Multivariate and survival analyses were precluded due to lack of significance.

CONCLUSIONS

sP-selectin was not useful for predicting short-term mortality or major bleeding in patients with acute symptomatic pulmonary embolism. Further studies are required to clarify the role of sP-selectin in VTE, particularly in prognosticating PE outcomes.

Safety and Outcomes with Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Vitamin-K Antagonists in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a subtype of pulmonary hypertension characterized by organized thrombi inside the pulmonary vasculature, leading to an increase in pulmonary artery pressure. CTEPH is seen in about 3-4% of patients with acute pulmonary embolism and is associated with poor outcomes. Apart from surgical intervention, lifelong anticoagulation is the mainstay of CTEPH management. Traditionally, CTEPH is managed with vitamin-K antagonists (VKA); however, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recently gaining popularity. However, the current literature comparing DOACs versus VKAs in CTEPH has inconsistent results. An electronic search of the major bibliographic databases was performed to retrieve studies comparing DOACs versus VKAs in CTEPH patients. For dichotomous outcomes, the odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model to generate forest plots. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05. Ten studies were included with 3936 patients (1269 in the DOAC group and 2667 in the VKA group). Treatment with DOAC was associated with no statistically significant difference in the risk of all-cause mortality (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.35-1.71; P < 0.53), venous thromboembolism (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.59-2.40; P = 0.63), major bleeding (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.38-1.22; P = 0.20), and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.80-1.86; P = 0.37). Our analysis demonstrates that DOACs are noninferior to VKAs in terms of their safety and outcomes profile in CTEPH. Further trials are needed to evaluate more robust evidence and to compare additional outcomes.

Validation of the RIETE, Kuijer, and HAS-BLED Models to Assess 3-Month Bleeding Risk in Anticoagulated Patients Diagnosed with Venous Thromboembolic Disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the discriminative ability and calibration of the RIETE, Kuijer, and HAS-BLED models for predicting 3-month bleeding risk in patients anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism (VTE).

METHODS

External validation study of a prediction model based on a retrospective cohort of patients with VTE seen at the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá (Colombia) between July 2021 and June 2023. The calibration of the scales was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and the ratio of observed to expected events (ROE) within each risk category. Discriminatory ability was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC) of a ROC curve.

RESULTS

We analyzed 470 patients (median age 65 years, female sex 59.3%) with a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in most cases (57.4%), 5.7% bleeding events were observed. Regarding calibration, adequate calibration cannot be ruled out given the limited number of events. The discriminatory ability was limited with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.48 (CI 0.37-0.59) for Kuijer Score, 0.58 (CI 0.47-0.70) for HAS-BLED and 0.64 (CI 0.51-0.76) for RIETE.

CONCLUSION

The Kuijer, HAS-BLED, and RIETE models in patients with VTE generally do not adequately estimate the risk of bleeding at three months, with a low ability to discriminate high-risk patients. Cautious interpretation is recommended until further evidence is available.

Anticoagulation in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Life-long anticoagulation is the recommended management for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Evidence regarding the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) for CTEPH is yet to be established. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the outcomes of CTEPH in patients who used DOAC or vitamin K antagonists (VKA).

METHODS

We reviewed literature in PubMed and EMBASE through March 2023. We included studies involving patients with CTEPH where DOAC and VKA were compared. We collected data including intervention history for CTEPH, bleeding events, recurrence of VTE (venous thromboembolism), and mortality. We performed a meta-analysis using the Mantel-Haenszel method with a fixed-effects model.

RESULTS

We included one randomized clinical trial and six observational studies, with a total of 2969 patients. Six studies investigated major bleeding outcomes, and seven investigated all bleeding outcomes. There were no differences in major bleeding (RR 0.59, 95 % CI [0.34-1.02], I2 = 0 %) and all-bleeding (RR 0.87, 95 % CI [0.67-1.13], I2 = 0 %). Based on the five studies we included, DOAC was associated with a lower risk of mortality (RR 0.54, 95 % CI: 0.37-0.79, I2 = 5 %). However, a higher risk of recurrent pulmonary embolism (PE) was seen in three studies (RR 3.80, 95 % CI: [1.93-7.50], I2 = 11 %). No significant differences were noted in terms of VTE.

CONCLUSION

DOAC compared to VKA was associated with a significantly lower mortality and higher risk of recurrent PE. Since most of the included studies are observational, we must consider the existence of multiple biases and confounding factors.

National Trends in Anticoagulation Therapy for COVID-19 Hospitalized Adults in the United States: Analyses of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative

BACKGROUND

Anticoagulation (AC) utilization patterns and their predictors among hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have not been well described.

METHODS

Using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative, we conducted a retrospective cohort study (2020-2022) to assess AC use patterns and identify factors associated with therapeutic AC employing modified Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Among 162 842 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 64% received AC and 24% received therapeutic AC. Therapeutic AC use declined from 32% in 2020 to 12% in 2022, especially after December 2021. Therapeutic AC predictors included age (relative risk [RR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.02 per year), male (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.27-1.32), non-Hispanic black (RR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.13-1.18), obesity (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.43-1.52), increased length of stay (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.01 per day), and invasive ventilation (RR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.59-1.69). Vaccination (RR, 0.88; 95% CI, 84-.92) and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (RR, 0.98; 95% CI, .97-.98) were associated with lower therapeutic AC.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, two-thirds of hospitalized COVID-19 patients received any AC and a quarter received therapeutic dosing. Therapeutic AC declined after introduction of the Omicron variant. Predictors of therapeutic AC included demographics, obesity, length of stay, invasive ventilation, CCI, and vaccination, suggesting AC decisions driven by clinical factors including COVID-19 severity, bleeding risks, and comorbidities.

Outcomes and Discriminatory Accuracy of the CHA2DS2VASc Score in Atrial Fibrillation and Cancer

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly prevalent among cancer patients. The role of traditional risk stratification scores in the context of different cancer types in these patients remains unknown.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the discriminative accuracy of the CHA2DS2VASc score for ischemic stroke using receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve.

Methods

The National Readmission Database (2015-2019) was used to identify all AF patients stratified by the cancer diagnosis, type, and CHA2DS2VASc category (low; moderate; high risk). Outcomes at 30-day readmission were compared between cancer and noncancer groups using hierarchical multivariable logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% CIs.

Results

A total of 6,996,088 AF patients were identified at index admission. Of these, 4,242,630 (642,237 cancer, 3,600,393 noncancer) were readmitted at 30 days. Cancer patients (92.1%) had a higher proportion of high CHA2DS2VASc scores compared with their noncancer counterparts (89.8%, P < 0.001). The 30-day readmission rate and incidence of major bleeding in cancer patients were significantly higher compared with their corresponding noncancer group across all CHA2DS2VASc categories. Among the different cancer types, hematological and lung cancer had a high propensity for major bleeding. The odds of ischemic stroke were lower in the cancer group across high (1.9% vs 2.4%; aOR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.76-0.79; P < 0.0001), moderate (0.8% vs 1.3%; aOR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.50-0.64; P < 0.0001), and low (0.4% vs 0.9%; aOR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.34-0.62; P < 0.0001) risk category relative to the noncancer group irrespective of type of cancer. CHA2DS2VASc category had a statistically significant discriminatory accuracy for ischemic stroke in both cancer and noncancer patients.

Conclusions

Cancer patients with AF are at a higher risk of readmission and major bleeding. The risk of ischemic stroke during readmission appears to be lower than noncancer patients. These findings may have implications for anticoagulant therapy in cancer patients.

Safety of the pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria rule: Findings from the Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbolica venosa (RIETE) registry

BACKGROUND

The diagnostic strategy for pulmonary embolism (PE) includes a D-dimer test when PE probability is low or intermediate, but false-positive D-dimer results are frequent and can result in an unnecessary computed tomography pulmonary angiogram. The PE rule-out criteria (PERC) rule excludes PE without D-dimer testing when pretest probability is <15%. The aim of this study was to assess the safety of the PERC rule strategy in patients included in the Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbolica venosa (RIETE) registry.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study used data from the RIETE registry, an ongoing, international prospective registry of patients with objectively confirmed venous thromboembolism. The primary outcome was the failure rate of the PERC strategy, represented by the proportion of PERC-negative (PERC-N) patients with a PE included in the registry. Secondary outcomes were a comparison of the clinical characteristics, treatment strategy, and outcome of PERC-N versus PERC-positive (PERC-P) patients at 3 months.

RESULTS

From 2001 to 2021, a total of 49,793 patients with acute PE were enrolled in the RIETE registry. We included 48,903 in the final analysis after exclusion of 890 patients with an undetermined PERC status. Only 346 patients were PERC-N with a failure rate of 0.7% (95% confidence interval 0.6%-0.8%). PERC-N patients presented more frequently with chest pain but less often with dyspnea, syncope, or hypotension. They also had subsegmental or segmental PE more frequently, were more often treated with direct oral anticoagulants, and received mechanical or pharmacological thrombolysis less often. In addition, PERC-N patients had a lower incidence of recurrent deep vein thrombosis, major bleeding, and death attributed to PE during the 3-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

A low failure rate of the PERC rule was observed in the RIETE registry, thus supporting its use to safely identify patients with an unlikely probability of PE.

Comparison of Performances among Four Bleeding-Prediction Scores in Elderly Cancer Patients with Venous Thromboembolism

The performances of RIETE, VTE-BLEED, SWITCO65 + , and Hokusai-VTE scores for predicting major bleeding events in hospitalized elderly cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) have not been evaluated. This study validated the performances of these scoring systems in a cohort of elderly cancer patients with VTE. Between June 2015 and March 2021, a total of 408 cancer patients (aged ≥ 65 years) with acute VTE were consecutively enrolled. The overall rates of in-hospital major bleeding and clinically relevant bleeding (CRB) were 8.3% (34/408) and 11.8% (48/408), respectively. RIETE score could categorize patients with increasing rate of major bleeding and CRB into low-/intermediate- and high-risk categories (7.1 vs. 14.1%, p = 0.05 and 10.1 vs. 19.7%, p = 0.02, respectively). The discriminative power of the four scores for predicting major bleeding was poor to moderate, indicated by areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (0.45 [95% confidence interval, CI: 0.35-0.55] for Hokusai-VTE, 0.54 [95% CI: 0.43-0.64] for SWITCO65 + , 0.58 [95% CI: 0.49-0.68] for VTE-BLEED, and 0.61 [95% CI: 0.51-0.71] for RIETE). RIETE score might be used to predict major bleeding in hospitalized elderly cancer patients with acute VTE.

Effectiveness and Safety of Apixaban vs Warfarin in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism with Risk Factors for Bleeding or for Recurrences

INTRODUCTION

Patients at increased risk of bleeding and recurrent VTE who develop venous thromboembolism (VTE) present challenges for clinical management. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of apixaban vs warfarin in patients with VTE who have risk factors for bleeding or recurrences.

METHODS

Adult patients with VTE initiating apixaban or warfarin were identified from five claims databases. Stabilized inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance characteristics between cohorts for the main analysis. Subgroup interaction analyses were conducted to evaluate treatment effects among patients with and without each of the conditions that increased the risk of bleeding (thrombocytopenia and history of bleed) or recurrent VTE (thrombophilia, chronic liver disease, and immune-mediated disorders).

RESULTS

A total of 94,333 warfarin and 60,786 apixaban patients with VTE met selection criteria. After IPTW, all patient characteristics were balanced between cohorts. Apixaban (vs warfarin) patients were at lower risk of recurrent VTE (HR [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72 [0.67-0.78]), major bleeding (MB) (HR [95% CI] 0.70 [0.64-0.76]), and clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding (HR [95% CI] 0.83 [0.80-0.86]). Subgroup analyses showed generally consistent findings with the overall analysis. For most subgroup analyses, there were no significant interactions between treatment and subgroup strata on VTE, MB and CRNM bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Patients with prescription fills for apixaban had lower risk of recurrent VTE, MB, and CRNM bleeding compared with warfarin patients. Treatment effects of apixaban vs warfarin were generally consistent across subgroups of patients at increased risk of bleeding/recurrences.

Exploring the Clinical Efficacy of Venous Thromboembolism Management in Saudi Arabian Hospitals: An Insight into Patient Outcomes

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common condition that can recur, leading to multiple therapeutic strategies to prevent it. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical efficacy of VTE management in Saudi Arabian hospitals and to gain insights into patient outcomes. A retrospective single-center study was conducted that retrieved the data of all patients with VTE registered from January 2015 to December 2017. Patients of all age groups were included if they attended the thrombosis clinic at KFMC during the data collection period. The study analyzed the various therapeutic strategies used for VTE and their effect on patient outcomes. The results showed that 14.6% of the patients had provoked VTE, with a higher incidence among females and younger patients. The most commonly prescribed treatment was combination therapy, followed by warfarin, oral anticoagulants, and factor Xa inhibitor. Despite being prescribed treatment, 74.9% of the patients experienced recurrence of VTE. There was no associated risk factor for recurrence in 79.9% of the patients. Thrombolytic therapy and catheter-directed thrombolysis were found to be associated with a lower risk of VTE recurrence, while anticoagulation therapy, including oral anticoagulants, was associated with a higher risk. Vitamin K antagonist (warfarin) and factor Xa inhibitor (rivaroxaban) had a significant positive association with VTE recurrence, while the use of a direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) showed a lower risk, but it was not statistically significant. The results of the study highlight the need for further research to determine the most effective therapeutic strategy for VTE management in Saudi Arabian hospitals. The findings also suggest that anticoagulation therapy, including oral anticoagulants, may increase the risk of VTE recurrence, while thrombolytic therapy and catheter-directed thrombolysis may lower the risk.

Outcomes of a Single-center Experience In Eliminating Routine Postoperative Duplex Ultrasound Following Endovenous Ablation

OBJECTIVES

The current guidelines recommend routine postoperative screening duplex ultrasound (DUS) after endovenous ablation (EVA). This is a grade 2C recommendation and several contemporary reports have called for revision of this recommendation as there is insufficient evidence to support universal screening DUS after EVA. There are currently no studies that evaluate outcomes among EVA patients who did not have screening DUS. The aim of our study is to present outcomes from our single-center experience among patients who did not have DUS routinely performed after EVA.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, prospective cohort study that included consecutive patients undergoing EVA of the great saphenous vein at our institution between September 30, 2021 and March 15, 2022. At 30 days post procedure, electronic medical records were queried to identify patients who may have presented for evaluation of VTE symptoms.

RESULTS

Over the study period, a total of 80 lower extremity EVA procedures (71 EVLT, 9 RFA) were performed among 76 patients. Postoperative DUS was performed on 24 patients of which none were identified as having EHIT. Of the 54 patients who did not have DUS, a 30-day post procedure chart review revealed that none of these patients were seen for symptoms of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We estimate total cost savings of $14,289 by eliminating routine DUS without impact to clinical outcomes following EVA.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative DUS assessment after EVA comes with associated healthcare cost and has low yield given the incidence of clinically significant EHIT (3 and 4) is rare. In our experience, eliminating routine DUS had no impact on clinical outcomes, improved vascular lab access, and had a positive financial impact in our organization. Limiting DUS screening to EVA patients who exhibit symptoms of VTE can be a cost-effective approach that limits unnecessary imaging, time, and resources with no potential change in clinical outcomes based on our data. Further research is required and a randomized controlled trial would be ideal to answer this question.

CRB-65 for Risk Stratification and Prediction of Prognosis in Pulmonary Embolism

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. The search for simple and easily assessable risk stratification scores with favourable effectiveness is still ongoing, and prognostic performance of the CRB-65 score in PE might promising.

METHODS

The German nationwide inpatient sample was used for this study. All patient cases of patients with PE in Germany 2005-2020 were included and stratified for CRB-65 risk class: low-risk group (CRB-65-score 0 points) vs. high-risk group (CRB-65-score ≥1 points).

RESULTS

Overall, 1,373,145 patient cases of patients with PE (76.6% aged ≥65 years, 47.0% females) were included. Among these, 1,051,244 patient cases (76.6%) were classified as high-risk according to CRB-65 score (≥1 points). The majority of high-risk patients according to CRB-65 score were females (55.8%). Additionally, high-risk patients according to CRB-65 score showed an aggravated comorbidity profile with increased Charlson comorbidity index (5.0 [IQR 4.0-7.0] vs. 2.0 [0.0-3.0], p < 0.001). In-hospital case fatality (19.0% vs. 3.4%, p < 0.001) and MACCE (22.4% vs. 5.1%, p < 0.001) occurred distinctly more often in PE patients of the high-risk group according to CRB-65 score (≥1 points) compared to the low-risk group (= 0 points). The CRB-65 high-risk class was independently associated with in-hospital death (OR 5.53 [95%CI 5.40-5.65], p < 0.001) as well as MACCE (OR 4.31 [95%CI 4.23-4.40], p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Risk stratification with CRB-65 score was helpful for identifying PE patients being at higher risk of adverse in-hospital events. The high-risk class according to CRB-65 score (≥1 points) was independently associated with a 5.5-fold increased occurrence of in-hospital death.

Venous Thromboembolism: Exploring Incidence and Utility of Screening in Individuals With Brain Injury

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of VTE in the population with brain injuries (BIs) using ultrasonography, and to assess the risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) development and/or bleeding complications related to anticoagulation.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Acute rehabilitation hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

238 individuals with moderate to severe BI who were routinely screened for VTE with ultrasonography on admission to rehabilitation (N=238).

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Retrospective chart review was performed to identify individuals who were diagnosed with VTE at the following 3 time points: in acute care prior to admission to rehabilitation, at the time of admission diagnosed via screening examination, and after admission to rehabilitation. Additionally, risk factors for VTE, PE, and incidence of bleeding complications related to therapeutic anticoagulation were assessed.

RESULTS

123 deep vein thromboses (DVTs) were identified with 38.2% in acute care (n=47), 69.1% on admission to rehabilitation (n=85), and 7.3% during the course of rehabilitation stay (n=9). Risk factors for development of VTE included age at injury, body mass index, injury etiology, history of neurosurgical procedure, and surgery during inpatient rehabilitation. Of those who were placed on therapeutic anticoagulation due to admission diagnosis of VTE (n=50), 2% developed recurrent DVT and 2% had bleeding complications. There was zero incidence of PE.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated a high prevalence of VTEs identified on screening ultrasonography on admission to inpatient rehabilitation among individuals with moderate to severe BIs, and low complications related to anticoagulation. Given the findings of this study, prospective research in ultrasonography screening for VTE in moderate to severe BI is needed.

Evaluation of Patient Characteristics Linked to Major Bleeding Events in Patients Prescribed Direct Oral Anticoagulants

INTRODUCTION

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) demonstrated similar efficacy and lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage than warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Given the lack of data identifying risk factors in patients who bled while on a DOAC, we sought to investigate these characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective chart review was approved by the Mass General Brigham Institutional Review Board and assessed patients who experienced bleeding events while on DOAC therapy from 6/1/2015 to 7/1/2020. Patient characteristics were evaluated, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), renal function, concomitant therapies, and baseline comorbidities.

RESULTS

Eighty-seven patients were included for analysis, with a median age of 75.8 years. Most patients were female (51.7%) and 24 (27.6%) had a BMI >30. At time-of-event, 21 patients (24.1%) had acute kidney injury. Thirty-three patients (37.9%) were on concomitant antiplatelet therapy (APT), with 31 (35.6%) on single APT and 2 on dual APT. Pertinent comorbidities included hypertension (74.7%), ischemic cerebrovascular accident (28.7%), thyroid abnormality (23.0%), active cancer (14.9%), and anemia (13.8%). Eleven patients (12.6%) had a prior bleeding event. Most patients were on apixaban (69.0%) for the indication of stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation/flutter (72.4%). FDA-approved dosing was used in most patients (92.0%), and all deviations reflected underdosing. Most bleeding events were defined as major (95.4%), occurred at a critical organ site (72.4%), and developed spontaneously (58.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide insight into characteristics of patients who experience bleeding events while on DOAC therapy. Understanding these potential risk factors may optimize the safe use of these agents.

Risk of Bleeding Associated With Outpatient Use of Rivaroxaban in VTE Management at a National Referral Hospital in Western Kenya

There is limited data on the bleeding safety profile of direct oral anticoagulants, such as rivaroxaban, in low- and middle-income country settings like Kenya. In this prospective observational study, patients newly started on rivaroxaban or switching to rivaroxaban from warfarin for the management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) within the national referral hospital in western Kenya were assessed to determine the frequency of bleeding during treatment. Bleeding events were assessed at the 1- and 3-month visits, as well as at the end of follow-up. The International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) and the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria were used to categorize the bleeding events, and descriptive statistics were used to summarize categorical variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model was used to calculate unadjusted and adjusted associations between patient characteristics and bleeding. The frequency of any type of bleeding was 14.4% (95% CI: 9.3%-20.8%) for an incidence rate of 30.9 bleeding events (95% CI: 20.1-45.6) per 100 patient-years of follow-up. The frequency of major bleeding was 1.9% while that of clinically relevant non-major bleeding was 13.8%. In the multivariate logistic regression model, being a beneficiary of the national insurance plan was associated with a lower risk of bleeding, while being unemployed was associated with a higher bleeding risk. The use of rivaroxaban in the management of VTE was associated with a higher frequency of bleeding. These findings warrant confirmation in larger and more targeted investigations in a similar population.

Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment predicts adverse in-hospital events in patients with pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening acute disease accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. Regarding hospitalizations of patients with PE, risk stratification of these patients is crucial. Thus, risk stratification tools like risk scores are of key interest.

METHODS

The nationwide German inpatient sample of the years 2005-2018 was used for this present analysis. Hospitalized PE patients were stratified according to Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment class, and the performance of this score was evaluated to predict adverse in-hospital events.

RESULTS

Overall, 1 174 196 hospitalizations of PE patients (53.5% females; 56.4% ≥70 years) were registered in Germany between 2005 and 2018. According to the Mansoor's self-report tool for cardiovascular risk assessment, 346 126 (29.5%) PE patients were classified as high risk. Higher Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment class was predictive for in-hospital death (OR 1.129 [95%CI 1.117-1.141], P < 0.001), shock (OR 1.117 [95%CI 1.095-1.140], P < 0.001), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR 1.109 [95%CI 1.092-1.126], P < 0.001), right ventricular dysfunction (OR 1.039 [95%CI 1.030-1.048], P < 0.001), intracerebral bleeding (OR 1.316 [95%CI 1.275-1.358], P < 0.001), and gastro-intestinal bleeding (OR 1.316 [95%CI 1.275-1.358], P < 0.001). Systemic thrombolysis was not associated with lower in-hospital mortality in high-risk class (OR 5.139 [95%CI 4.961-5.323], P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Prognostic performance of the Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment for risk stratification of PE patients was poor and not able to identify those PE patients, who might benefit from systemic thrombolysis. However, the Mansoor's Self-Report Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment was moderately helpful to identify PE patients at higher risk for bleeding events.

Platelet-Inspired Intravenous Nanomedicine for Injury-Targeted Direct Delivery of Thrombin to Augment Hemostasis in Coagulopathies

Severe hemorrhage associated with trauma, surgery, and congenital or drug-induced coagulopathies can be life-threatening and requires rapid hemostatic management via topical, intracavitary, or intravenous routes. For injuries that are not easily accessible externally, intravenous hemostatic approaches are needed. The clinical gold standard for this is transfusion of blood products, but due to donor dependence, specialized storage requirements, high risk of contamination, and short shelf life, blood product use faces significant challenges. Consequently, recent research efforts are being focused on designing biosynthetic intravenous hemostats, using intravenous nanoparticles and polymer systems. Here we report on the design and evaluation of thrombin-loaded injury-site-targeted lipid nanoparticles (t-TLNPs) that can specifically localize at an injury site via platelet-mimetic anchorage to the von Willebrand factor (vWF) and collagen and directly release thrombin via diffusion and phospholipase-triggered particle destabilization, which can locally augment fibrin generation from fibrinogen for hemostatic action. We evaluated t-TLNPs in vitro in human blood and plasma, where hemostatic defects were created by platelet depletion and anticoagulation. Spectrophotometric studies of fibrin generation, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM)-based studies of clot viscoelasticity, and BioFlux-based real-time imaging of fibrin generation under simulated vascular flow conditions confirmed that t-TLNPs can restore fibrin in hemostatic dysfunction settings. Finally, the in vivo feasibility of t-TLNPs was tested by prophylactic administration in a tail-clip model and emergency administration in a liver-laceration model in mice with induced hemostatic defects. Treatment with t-TLNPs was able to significantly reduce bleeding in both models. Our studies demonstrate an intravenous nanomedicine approach for injury-site-targeted direct delivery of thrombin to augment hemostasis.

The Gab2-MALT1 axis regulates thromboinflammation and deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the third most common cause of cardiovascular mortality. Several studies suggest that DVT occurs at the intersection of dysregulated inflammation and coagulation upon activation of inflammasome and secretion of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in restricted venous flow conditions. Our recent studies showed a signaling adapter protein, Gab2 (Grb2-associated binder 2), plays a crucial role in propagating inflammatory signaling triggered by IL-1β and other inflammatory mediators in endothelial cells. The present study shows that Gab2 facilitates the assembly of the CBM (CARMA3 [CARD recruited membrane-associated guanylate kinase protein 3]-BCL-10 [B-cell lymphoma 10]-MALT1 [mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1]) signalosome, which mediates the activation of Rho and NF-κB in endothelial cells. Gene silencing of Gab2 or MALT1, the effector signaling molecule in the CBM signalosome, or pharmacological inhibition of MALT1 with a specific inhibitor, mepazine, significantly reduced IL-1β-induced Rho-dependent exocytosis of P-selectin and von Willebrand factor (VWF) and the subsequent adhesion of neutrophils to endothelial cells. MALT1 inhibition also reduced IL-1β-induced NF-κB-dependent expression of tissue factor and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. Consistent with the in vitro data, Gab2 deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of MALT1 suppressed the accumulation of monocytes and neutrophils at the injury site and attenuated venous thrombosis induced by the inferior vena cava ligation-induced stenosis or stasis in mice. Overall, our data reveal a previously unrecognized role of the Gab2-MALT1 axis in thromboinflammation. Targeting the Gab2-MALT1 axis with MALT1 inhibitors may become an effective strategy to treat DVT by suppressing thromboinflammation without inducing bleeding complications.

Role of Physical Therapists in the Management of Individuals at Risk for or Diagnosed With Venous Thromboembolism: Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline 2022

No matter the practice setting, physical therapists work with patients who are at risk for or who have a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In 2016, the first clinical practice guideline (CPG) addressing the physical therapist management of VTE was published with support by the American Physical Therapy Association's Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy and Academy of Acute Care, with a primary focus on lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This CPG is an update of the 2016 CPG and contains the most current evidence available for the management of patients with lower extremity DVT and new key action statements (KAS), including guidance on upper extremity DVT, pulmonary embolism, and special populations. This document will guide physical therapist practice in the prevention of and screening for VTE and in the management of patients who are at risk for or who have been diagnosed with VTE. Through a systematic review of published studies and a structured appraisal process, KAS were written to guide the physical therapist. The evidence supporting each action was rated, and the strength of statement was determined. Clinical practice algorithms based on the KAS were developed that can assist with clinical decision-making. Physical therapists, along with other members of the health care team, should implement these KAS to decrease the incidence of VTE, improve the diagnosis and acute management of VTE, and reduce the long-term complications of VTE.

Management of bleeding risk in patients who receive anticoagulant therapy for venous thromboembolism: Communication from the ISTH SSC Subcommittee on Predictive and Diagnostic Variables in Thrombotic Disease

Patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) require anticoagulant therapy to prevent recurrent VTE and death, which exposes them to an inherent increased risk of bleeding. Identification of patients at high risk of bleeding, and mitigating this risk, is an essential component of the immediate and long-term therapeutic management of VTE. The bleeding risk can be estimated by either implicit judgment, weighing individual predictors (clinical variables or biomarkers), or by risk prediction tools developed for this purpose. Management of bleeding risk in clinical practice is, however, far from standardized. International guidelines are contradictory and lack clear and consistent guidance on the optimal management of bleeding risk. This report of the ISTH subcommittee on Predictive and Diagnostic Variables in Thrombotic Disease summarizes the evidence on the prediction of bleeding in VTE patients. We systematically searched the literature and identified 34 original studies evaluating either predictors or risk prediction models for prediction of bleeding risk on anticoagulation in VTE patients. Based on this evidence, we provide recommendations for the standardized management of bleeding risk in VTE patients.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in the Treatment of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (ACTION-CVT): A Multicenter International Study

BACKGROUND

A small randomized controlled trial suggested that dabigatran may be as effective as warfarin in the treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We aimed to compare direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to warfarin in a real-world CVT cohort.

METHODS

This multicenter international retrospective study (United States, Europe, New Zealand) included consecutive patients with CVT treated with oral anticoagulation from January 2015 to December 2020. We abstracted demographics and CVT risk factors, hypercoagulable labs, baseline imaging data, and clinical and radiological outcomes from medical records. We used adjusted inverse probability of treatment weighted Cox-regression models to compare recurrent cerebral or systemic venous thrombosis, death, and major hemorrhage in patients treated with warfarin versus DOACs. We performed adjusted inverse probability of treatment weighted logistic regression to compare recanalization rates on follow-up imaging across the 2 treatments groups.

RESULTS

Among 1025 CVT patients across 27 centers, 845 patients met our inclusion criteria. Mean age was 44.8 years, 64.7% were women; 33.0% received DOAC only, 51.8% received warfarin only, and 15.1% received both treatments at different times. During a median follow-up of 345 (interquartile range, 140-720) days, there were 5.68 recurrent venous thrombosis, 3.77 major hemorrhages, and 1.84 deaths per 100 patient-years. Among 525 patients who met recanalization analysis inclusion criteria, 36.6% had complete, 48.2% had partial, and 15.2% had no recanalization. When compared with warfarin, DOAC treatment was associated with similar risk of recurrent venous thrombosis (aHR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.51-1.73]; P=0.84), death (aHR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.22-2.76]; P=0.70), and rate of partial/complete recanalization (aOR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.48-1.73]; P=0.79), but a lower risk of major hemorrhage (aHR, 0.35 [95% CI, 0.15-0.82]; P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CVT, treatment with DOACs was associated with similar clinical and radiographic outcomes and favorable safety profile when compared with warfarin treatment. Our findings need confirmation by large prospective or randomized studies.

Neurological Complications of Pulmonary Embolism: a Literature Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The present review discusses in-depth about neurological complications following acute venous thromboembolism (VTE).

RECENT FINDINGS

Intracranial hemorrhage, acute ischemic cerebrovascular events, and VTE in brain tumors are described as central nervous system (CNS) complications of PE, while peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain are reported as peripheral nervous system (PNS) sequelae of PE. Syncope and seizure are illustrated as atypical neurological presentations of PE. Mounting evidence suggests higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with neurological diseases, but data on reverse, i.e., neurological sequelae following VTE, is underexplored. The present review is an attempt to explore some of the latter issues categorized into CNS, PNS, and atypical complications following VTE.

[Pulmonary Embolism]

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening disease and the third most frequent cardiovascular cause of death after stroke and myocardial infarction. The annual incidence is increasing (in Germany from 85 cases per 100000 population in the year 2005 to 109 cases per 100000 population in the year 2015). The individual risk for PE-related complications and death increases with the number of comorbidities and severity of right ventricular dysfunction. Using clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters, patients with PE can be stratified to four risk classes (high, intermediate-high, intermediate-low and low risk). This risk stratification has concrete therapeutic consequences ranging from out-of-hospital treatment of low-risk patients to reperfusion treatment of (intermediate)-high-risk patients. For haemodynamically unstable patients, treatment decision should preferably be made in interdisciplinary "Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams" (PERT). Due to their comparable efficacy and preferable safety profile compared to vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs), non-vitamin K-dependent oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are increasingly considered the treatment of choice for initial and prolonged anticoagulation of patients with pulmonary embolism. Use of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) is recommended for PE patients with cancer; however, recent studies indicate that treatment with factor Xa-inhibitors may be effective and safe (in patients without gastrointestinal cancer). Only prolonged anticoagulation (in reduced dosage) will ensure reduction of VTE recurrence and should thus be considered for all patients with unprovoked events.

Prediction of bleeding events using the VTE-BLEED risk score in patients with venous thromboembolism receiving anticoagulant therapy (Review)

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a major healthcare problem due to its high incidence, significant mortality rate from pulmonary embolism, high recurrence rate and morbidity from long-term complications. After a first episode of VTE all patients must receive anticoagulant treatment for 3 months. Further anticoagulation is recommended in patients without transient risk factors for VTE or patients with active cancer, if they are not at a high risk for bleeding. The VTE-BLEED risk score was created with the purpose of enabling a better stratification of the bleeding risk during stable anticoagulation after a first VTE. Currently, it is the most validated risk score in VTE settings (selected and non-selected cohorts). It has a good prediction power for major bleeding events in patients receiving any of the currently available classes of oral anticoagulants, and it can identify patients at risk of intracranial and fatal bleeding events. The aim of our review was to highlight the strengths of the VTE-BLEED risk score, to acknowledge its weak points and to properly position its use in current medical practice.

Long-Term Risk for Major Bleeding During Extended Oral Anticoagulant Therapy for First Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism : A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The long-term risk for major bleeding in patients receiving extended (beyond the initial 3 to 6 months) anticoagulant therapy for a first unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) is uncertain.

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of major bleeding during extended anticoagulation of up to 5 years among patients with a first unprovoked VTE, overall, and in clinically important subgroups.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to 23 July 2021.

STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies reporting major bleeding among patients with a first unprovoked VTE who were to receive oral anticoagulation for a minimum of 6 additional months after completing at least 3 months of initial anticoagulant treatment.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently abstracted data and assessed study quality. Unpublished data required for analyses were obtained from authors of included studies.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Among the 14 RCTs and 13 cohort studies included in the analysis, 9982 patients received a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) and 7220 received a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). The incidence of major bleeding per 100 person-years was 1.74 events (95% CI, 1.34 to 2.20 events) with VKAs and 1.12 events (CI, 0.72 to 1.62 events) with DOACs. The 5-year cumulative incidence of major bleeding with VKAs was 6.3% (CI, 3.6% to 10.0%). Among patients receiving either a VKA or a DOAC, the incidence of major bleeding was statistically significantly higher among those who were older than 65 years or had creatinine clearance less than 50 mL/min, a history of bleeding, concomitant use of antiplatelet therapy, or a hemoglobin level less than 100 g/L. The case-fatality rate of major bleeding was 8.3% (CI, 5.1% to 12.2%) with VKAs and 9.7% (CI, 3.2% to 19.2%) with DOACs.

LIMITATION

Data were insufficient to estimate incidence of major bleeding beyond 1 year of extended anticoagulation with DOACs.

CONCLUSION

In patients with a first unprovoked VTE, the long-term risks and consequences of anticoagulant-related major bleeding are considerable. This information will help inform patient prognosis and guide decision making about treatment duration for unprovoked VTE.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

Canadian Institutes of Health Research. (PROSPERO: CRD42019128597).

Estimating Bleeding Risk in Patients with Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Evaluation of Existing Risk Scores and Development of a New Risk Score

BACKGROUND

 Bleeding risk is highly relevant for treatment decisions in cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). Several risk scores exist, but have never been validated in patients with CAT and are not recommended for practice.

OBJECTIVES

 To compare methods of estimating clinically relevant (major and clinically relevant nonmajor) bleeding risk in patients with CAT: (1) existing risk scores for bleeding in venous thromboembolism, (2) pragmatic classification based on cancer type, and (3) new prediction model.

METHODS

 In a posthoc analysis of the Hokusai VTE Cancer study, a randomized trial comparing edoxaban with dalteparin for treatment of CAT, seven bleeding risk scores were externally validated (ACCP-VTE, HAS-BLED, Hokusai, Kuijer, Martinez, RIETE, and VTE-BLEED). The predictive performance of these scores was compared with a pragmatic classification based on cancer type (gastrointestinal; genitourinary; other) and a newly derived competing risk-adjusted prediction model based on clinical predictors for clinically relevant bleeding within 6 months after CAT diagnosis with nonbleeding-related mortality as the competing event ("CAT-BLEED").

RESULTS

 Data of 1,046 patients (149 events) were analyzed. Predictive performance of existing risk scores was poor to moderate (C-statistics: 0.50-0.57; poor calibration). Internal validation of the pragmatic classification and "CAT-BLEED" showed moderate performance (respective C-statistics: 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.66, and 0.63; 95% CI 0.58-0.68; good calibration).

CONCLUSION

 Existing risk scores for bleeding perform poorly after CAT. Pragmatic classification based on cancer type provides marginally better estimates of clinically relevant bleeding risk. Further improvement may be achieved with "CAT-BLEED," but this requires external validation in practice-based settings and with other DOACs and its clinical usefulness is yet to be demonstrated.

Comparison of Anticoagulation Regimens Following Stent Placement for Nonthrombotic Lower Extremity Venous Disease

PURPOSE

To determine whether subtherapeutic anticoagulation regimens are noninferior to therapeutic anticoagulation regimens following stent placement for nonthrombotic lower extremity venous disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-one consecutive patients (88% women; mean age, 44 years) who underwent stent placement for nonthrombotic lower extremity venous disease between 2002 and 2016 were retrospectively identified. The patients were divided into 2 cohorts: those who received prophylactic enoxaparin or no anticoagulation (subtherapeutic) after the procedure and those who received therapeutic doses of anticoagulation with enoxaparin, warfarin, and/or rivaroxaban (therapeutic) after the procedure. Baseline demographic characteristics, procedure characteristics, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups using the Student t test, Fisher exact test, and χ² test. The subtherapeutic and therapeutic anticoagulation groups did not differ significantly in the baseline demographic characteristics (eg, sex, race, and age) or procedure characteristics (eg, number of stents placed, stent brand, stent diameter, etc).

RESULTS

The mean clinical follow-up time was 4.4 years (range, 0-16.3 years). There were no thrombotic adverse events or luminal obstructions due to in-stent restenosis in either group. There were 5 minor bleeding adverse effects in the therapeutic group and no bleeding adverse effects in the subtherapeutic group (P = .051). There were no statistically significant differences in subjective symptom improvement (P = .75).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective cohort, the subtherapeutic and therapeutic anticoagulation regimens produced equivalent outcomes in terms of adverse event rates, reintervention rates, and symptomatic improvement, suggesting that therapeutic doses of anticoagulation do not improve outcomes compared with subtherapeutic anticoagulation regimens following nonthrombotic venous stent placement.

Available Bleeding Scoring Systems Poorly Predict Major Bleeding in the Acute Phase of Pulmonary Embolism

We aimed to compare six available bleeding scores, in a real-life cohort, for prediction of major bleeding in the early phase of pulmonary embolism (PE). We recorded in-hospital characteristics of 2754 PE patients in a prospective observational multicenter cohort contributing 18,028 person-days follow-up. The VTE-BLEED (Venous Thrombo-Embolism Bleed), RIETE (Registro informatizado de la enfermedad tromboembólica en España; Computerized Registry of Patients with Venous Thromboembolism), ORBIT (Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment), HEMORR₂HAGES (Hepatic or Renal Disease, Ethanol Abuse, Malignancy, Older Age, Reduced Platelet Count or Function, Re-Bleeding, Hypertension, Anemia, Genetic Factors, Excessive Fall Risk and Stroke), ATRIA (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation), and HAS-BLED (Hypertension, Abnormal Renal/Liver Function, Stroke, Bleeding History or Predisposition, Labile International Normalized Ratio, Elderly, Drugs/Alcohol) scores were assessed at baseline. International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH)-defined bleeding events were independently adjudicated. Accuracy of the overall original 3-level and newly defined optimal 2-level outcome of the scores were evaluated and compared. We observed 82 first early major bleedings (3.0% (95% CI, 2.4–3.7)). The predictive power of bleeding scores was poor (Harrel’s C-index from 0.57 to 0.69). The RIETE score had numerically higher model fit and discrimination capacity but without reaching statistical significance versus the ORBIT, HEMORR₂HAGES, and ATRIA scores. The VTE-BLEED and HAS-BLED scores had significantly lower C-index, integrated discrimination improvement, and net reclassification improvement compared to the others. The rate of observed early major bleeding in score-defined low-risk patients was high, between 15% and 34%. Current available scoring systems have insufficient accuracy to predict early major bleeding in patients with acute PE. The development of acute-PE-specific risk scores is needed to optimally target bleeding prevention strategies.

An Original Risk Score to Predict Early Major Bleeding in Acute Pulmonary Embolism: The Syncope, Anemia, Renal Dysfunction (PE-SARD) Bleeding Score

BACKGROUND

Improved prediction of the risk of early major bleeding in pulmonary embolism (PE) is needed to optimize acute management.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does a simple scoring system predict early major bleeding in acute PE patients, identifying patients with either high or low probability of early major bleeding?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

From a multicenter prospective registry including 2,754 patients, we performed post hoc multivariable logistic regression analysis to build a risk score to predict early (up to hospital discharge) major bleeding events. We validated the endpoint model internally, using bootstrapping in the derivation dataset by sampling with replacement for 500 iterations. Performances of this novel score were compared with that of the VTE-BLEED, RIETE, and BACS models.

RESULTS

Multivariable regression identified three predictors for the occurrence of 82 major bleeds (3.0%; 95% CI, 2.39%-3.72%): Syncope (+1.5); Anemia, defined as hemoglobin <12 g/dL (+2.5); and Renal Dysfunction, defined as glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min (+1 point) (SARD). The PE-SARD bleeding score was calculated by summing all the components. Overall, 52.2% (95% CI; 50.29%-54.11%) of patients were classified as low bleeding-risk (score, 0 point), 35.2% (95% CI, 33.39%-37.04%) intermediate-risk (score, 1-2.5 points), and 12.6% (95% CI, 9.30%-16.56%) high-risk (score >2.5 points). Observed bleeding rates increased with increasing risk group, from 0.97% (95% CI, 0.53%-1.62%) in the low-risk to 8.93% (95% CI, 6.15%-12.44%) in the high-risk group. C-index was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.73-0.76) and Brier score 0.028 in the derivation cohort. Similar values were calculated from internal bootstrapping. Performance of the PE-SARD score was better than that observed with the VTE-BLEED, RIETE, and BACS scores, leading to a high proportion of bleeding-risk reclassification in patients who bled and those who did not.

INTERPRETATION

The PE-SARD bleeding risk score is an original, user-friendly score to estimate risk of early major bleeding in patients with acute PE.

Association Between Anticoagulation Outcomes and Venous Thromboembolism History in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Background: The association between anticoagulation outcomes and prior history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) has not been established. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation treatment in CTEPH patients with and without prior history of VTE.

Methods: A total of 333 CTEPH patients prescribed anticoagulants were retrospectively included from May 2013 to April 2019. The clinical characteristics were collected at their first admission. Incidental recurrent VTE and clinically relevant bleeding were recorded during follow-up. The Cox proportional regression models were used to identify potential factors associated with recurrent VTE and clinically relevant bleeding.

Results: Seventy patients (21%) without a prior history of VTE did not experience recurrent VTE during anticoagulation. Compared to CTEPH patients without a prior history of VTE, those with a prior history of VTE had an increased risk of recurrent VTE [2.27/100 person-year vs. 0/100 person-year; hazard ratio (HR), 8.92; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.18–1142.00; P = 0.029] but a similar risk of clinically relevant bleeding (3.90/100 person-year vs. 4.59/100 person-year; HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.38–1.78; P = 0.623). Multivariate Cox analyses suggested that a prior history of VTE and interruption of anticoagulation treatments were significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrent VTE, while anemia and glucocorticoid use were significantly associated with a higher risk of clinically relevant bleeding.

Conclusions: This study is the first to reveal that a prior history of VTE significantly increases the risk of recurrent VTE in CTEPH patients during anticoagulation treatment. This finding should be further evaluated in prospective studies.

Comparison of Bleeding Risk Scores in Elderly Patients Receiving Extended Anticoagulation with Vitamin K Antagonists for Venous Thromboembolism

BACKGROUND

 In elderly patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), the decision to extend anticoagulation beyond 3 months must be weighed against the bleeding risk. We compared the predictive performance of 10 clinical bleeding scores (VTE-BLEED, Seiler, Kuijer, Kearon, RIETE, ACCP, OBRI, HEMORR₂HAGES, HAS-BLED, ATRIA) in elderly patients receiving extended anticoagulation for VTE.

METHODS

 In a multicenter Swiss cohort study, we analyzed 743 patients aged ≥65 years who received extended treatment with vitamin K antagonists after VTE. The outcomes were the time to a first major and clinically relevant bleeding. For each score, we classified patients into two bleeding risk categories (low/moderate vs. high). We calculated likelihood ratios and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for each score.

RESULTS

 Over a median anticoagulation duration of 10.1 months, 45 patients (6.1%) had a first major and 127 (17.1%) a clinically relevant bleeding. The positive likelihood ratios for predicting major bleeding ranged from 0.69 (OBRI) to 2.56 (Seiler) and from 1.07 (ACCP) to 2.36 (Seiler) for clinically relevant bleeding. The areas under the ROC curves were poor to fair and varied between 0.47 (OBRI) and 0.70 (Seiler) for major and between 0.52 (OBRI) and 0.67 (HEMORR₂HAGES) for clinically relevant bleeding.

CONCLUSION

 The predictive performance of most clinical bleeding risk scores does not appear to be sufficiently high to identify elderly patients with VTE who are at high risk of bleeding and who may therefore not be suitable candidates for extended anticoagulation.

Updates on Anticoagulation and Laboratory Tools for Therapy Monitoring of Heparin, Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Anticoagulant drugs have been used to prevent and treat thrombosis. However, they are associated with risk of hemorrhage. Therefore, prior to their clinical use, it is important to assess the risk of bleeding and thrombosis. In case of older anticoagulant drugs like heparin and warfarin, dose adjustment is required owing to narrow therapeutic ranges. The established monitoring methods for heparin and warfarin are activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)/anti-Xa assay and prothrombin time – international normalized ratio (PT-INR), respectively. Since 2008, new generation anticoagulant drugs, called direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), have been widely prescribed to prevent and treat several thromboembolic diseases. Although the use of DOACs without routine monitoring and frequent dose adjustment has been shown to be safe and effective, there may be clinical circumstances in specific patients when measurement of the anticoagulant effects of DOACs is required. Recently, anticoagulation therapy has received attention when treating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of anticoagulant drugs—heparin, warfarin, and DOACs and describe the methods used for the measurement of their effects. In addition, we discuss the latest findings on thrombosis mechanism in patients with COVID-19 with respect to biological chemistry.

Predictive value of the Kuijer score for bleeding and other adverse in-hospital events in patients with venous thromboembolism

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) constitute a major global burden of disease. Current international guidelines recommend treatment with anticoagulant therapy after VTE for a duration of at least 3 months. Since anticoagulation also imposes an increased risk for bleeding events, the individual risk has to be evaluated to determine adequate treatment plans.

METHODS

The nationwide German inpatient sample of the years 2005-2017 was used for this analysis. Hospitalized VTE patients were stratified according to Kuijer risk class and the performance of the Kuijer score was evaluated to predict adverse in-hospital events.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,204,895 VTE patients were treated between 2005 and 2017 in Germany and were included in the present study (839,143 patients had deep venous thrombosis and/or thrombophlebitis and 669,881 patients pulmonary embolism). According to Kuijer risk class stratification, in total, 176,723 (14.7%) of the hospitalized VTE patients were classified as low risk, 914,964 (75.9%) as intermediate risk and 113,208 (9.4%) as high risk. A higher Kuijer risk class was predictive for in-hospital death (odds ratio [OR] 1.99 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.96-2.02], P < 0.001), major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, OR 1.90 [95%CI 1.87-1.93], P < 0.001), intracerebral bleeding (OR 1.28 [95%CI 1.14-1.44], P < 0.001), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR 1.56 [95%CI 1.48-1.64], P < 0.001) as well as necessity of transfusion of blood constituents (OR 2.94 [95%CI 2.88-3.00], P < 0.001) independently of important comorbidities.

CONCLUSIONS

The Kuijer score is an important risk stratification tool to predict individual risk regarding in-hospital outcomes comprising major bleeding events such as intracerebral bleeding and necessity of transfusion of blood constituents, but also in-hospital mortality and MACCE in VTE patients.

When I treat a patient with acute pulmonary embolism at home

Home treatment is feasible and safe in selected patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) and is associated with a considerable reduction in health care costs. When establishing a PE outpatient pathway, 2 major decisions must be made. The first one concerns the selection of patients for home treatment. The second one involves dedicated outpatient follow-up including sufficient patient education and facilities for specialized follow-up visits. Current evidence points toward the use of either the Hestia criteria or Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index with/without assessment of the right ventricular function to select patients for home treatment, depending on local preferences. Results from ongoing trials are expected to enforce current guideline recommendations on home treatment and pave the way for more broad application of this elegant and cost-effective management option for patients with acute PE.

Outpatient treatment of pulmonary embolism

Over the past decade there has been an increasing trend to manage many conditions traditionally treated during a hospital admission as outpatients. Evidence is increasing to support this approach in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE). In this article, we review the current status of outpatient management of confirmed PE and present a pragmatic approach for clinical healthcare settings.

Outpatient management of pulmonary embolism should be considered in all eligible patients to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and improve quality of carehttps://bit.ly/3mo5TX7

Prediction and treatment of bleeding in patients under anticoagulant treatment

Major bleeding is a common complication of anticoagulant treatment. Risk assessment tools are relevant in the management of patients with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. The combination of clinical, biological and genetic markers is incorporated to build predictive scores to help in the decision process about intensity and duration of treatment. The optimal management of bleeding involves the application of predictive scores in combination with anticoagulant reversal strategies.

How I assess and manage the risk of bleeding in patients treated for venous thromboembolism

For patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), prediction of bleeding is relevant throughout the course of treatment, although the means and goal of this prediction differ between the subsequent stages of treatment: treatment initiation, hospital discharge, 3-month follow-up, and long-term follow-up. Even in the absence of fully established risk prediction schemes and outcome studies using a prediction scheme for treatment decisions, the present evidence supports screening for and targeting of modifiable risk factors for major bleeding, as well as the application of decision rules to identify patients at low risk of bleeding complications, in whom long-term anticoagulant treatment is likely safe. Moving forward, prediction tools need to be incorporated in well-designed randomized controlled trials aiming to establish optimal treatment duration in patients at high risk of recurrent VTE. Moreover, the benefit of their longitudinal assessment rather than application as stand-alone baseline assessments should be studied, because changes in bleeding risk over time likely constitute the best predictor of major bleeding. We provide the state-of-the-art of assessing and managing bleeding risk in patients with acute VTE and highlight a practical approach for daily practice illustrated by 2 case scenarios.

Thrombosis and COVID-19 pneumonia: the clot thickens!

At the end of last year, a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulted in an acute respiratory illness epidemic in Wuhan, China [1, 2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) termed this illness coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The coronavirus family have been shown to enter cells through binding angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2), found mainly on alveolar epithelium and endothelium. Activation of endothelial cells is thought to be the primary driver for the increasingly recognised complication of thrombosis.

Pulmonary thrombosis appears to be common in COVID-19 pneumonia and takes two forms, proximal pulmonary emboli and/or distal thrombosis. The possible mechanisms and clinical implications are discussed.https://bit.ly/372Xdhw