Aspirin After Oral Anticoagulants for Prevention of Recurrence in Patients with Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism. the Warfasa STUDY

Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 543-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Becattini ◽  
Giancarlo Agnelli ◽  
Renzo Poggio ◽  
Sabine Eichinger ◽  
Eugenio Bucherini ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 543 Background A recurrence occurs in 15–20% of patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the two years after the withdrawal of oral anticoagulant treatment. Extending anticoagulant treatment is effective but associated with increased bleeding risk. We assessed the efficacy and safety of aspirin for the prevention of VTE recurrence after a conventional course of oral anticoagulation. Methods Warfasa was an investigator-initiated double-blind randomized placebo-controlled event-driven study. Patients with a first-ever unprovoked VTE who had completed 6–12 months of oral anticoagulant treatment were randomized to receive aspirin, 100 mg daily, or placebo for at least two years. The primary efficacy outcome was objectively confirmed recurrent symptomatic VTE and VTE-related death. Clinically relevant (major and non-major) bleeding were the main safety outcome. All outcome events were blindly adjudicated by an independent committee. Results A VTE recurrence occurred in 27 of the 205 patients who received aspirin and 42 of the 197 patients who received placebo (6.3% versus 11.0% patient-years; hazard ratio, 0.57, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.93) during the study period (mean 24 months) (Figure A). While on study treatment, 22 and 38 patients who received aspirin or placebo, respectively had a recurrence (5.7% versus 10.7% patient-years; hazard ratio, 0.54, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.91) (mean on-treatment period 22 months) (Figure B). One patient in each treatment group had a major bleeding, with a similar incidence of clinically relevant non-major bleeding. Conclusions Aspirin reduces by about 40% the risk of recurrence in patients with unprovoked VTE without increasing bleeding, when given after a 6–12 month anticoagulant treatment. For its safety, practicality and low cost, aspirin is a valid alternative to oral anticoagulants in the extended treatment of VTE. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0839-0844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vittorio Pengo ◽  
Fabio Barbero ◽  
Alberto Banzato ◽  
Elisabetta Garelli ◽  
Franco Noventa ◽  
...  

SummaryBackground. The long-term administration of oral anticoagulants to patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses is generally accepted. However, the appropriate intensity of oral anticoagulant treatment in these patients is still controversial.Methods and Results. From March 1991 to March 1994, patients referred to the Padova Thrombosis Center who had undergone mechanical heart valve substitution at least 6 months earlier were randomly assigned to receive oral anticoagulants at moderate intensity (target INR = 3) or moderate-high intensity (target INR = 4). Principal end points were major bleeding, thromboembolism and vascular death. Minor bleeding was a secondary end-point.A total of 104 patients were assigned to the target 3 group and 101 to the target 4 group; they were followed for from 1.5 years to up 4.5 years (mean, 3 years). Principal end-points occurred in 13 patients in the target 3 group (4 per 100 patient-years) and in 20 patients in the target 4 group (6.9 per 100 patient-years). Major hemorrhagic events occurred in 15 patients, 4 in the target 3 group (1.2 per 100 patient-years) and 11 in the target 4 group (3.8 per 100 patient-years) (p = 0.019). The 12 recorded episodes of thromboembolism, 4 of which consisted of a visual deficit, were all transient ischemic attacks, 6 in the target 3 group (1.8 per 100 patient-years) and 6 in the target 4 group (2.1 per 100 patient- years). There were 3 vascular deaths in each group (0.9 and 1 per 100 patient-years for target 3 and target 4 groups, respectively). Minor bleeding episodes occurred 85 times (26 per 100 patient-years) in the target 3 group and 123 times (43 per 100 patient-years) in the target 4 group (p = 0.001).Conclusions. Mechanical heart valve patients on anticoagulant treatment who had been operated on at least 6 months earlier experienced fewer bleeding complications when maintained on a moderate intensity regimen (target INR = 3) than those on a moderate-high intensity regimen (target INR = 4). The number of thromboembolic events and vascular deaths did not differ between the two groups.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J J Komen ◽  
P Hjemdahl ◽  
A K Mantel - Teeuwisse ◽  
O H Klungel ◽  
B Wettermark ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Anticoagulation treatment reduces the risk of stroke but increases the risk of bleeding in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Antidepressants use is associated with increased risk for stroke and bleeds. Objective To assess the association between antidepressant use in AF patients with oral anticoagulants and bleeding and stroke risk. Methods All AF patients newly prescribed with an oral anticoagulant in the Stockholm Healthcare database (n=2.3 million inhabitants) from July 2011 until 2016 were included and followed for one year or shorter if they stopped claiming oral anticoagulant treatment or had an outcome of interest. Outcomes were severe bleeds and strokes, requiring acute hospital care. During follow-up, patients were considered exposed to antidepressant after claiming a prescription for the duration of the prescription. With a time-varying Cox regression, we assessed the association between antidepressant use and strokes and bleeds, adjusting for confounders (i.e., age, sex, comorbidities, comedication, and year of inclusion). In addition, we performed a propensity score matched analysis to test the robustness of our findings. Results Of the 30,595 patients included after claiming a prescription for a NOAC (n=13,506) or warfarin (n=17,089), 4 303 claimed a prescription for an antidepressant during follow-up. A total of 712 severe bleeds and 551 strokes were recorded in the cohort. Concomitant oral anticoagulant and antidepressant use was associated with increased rates of severe bleeds (4.7 vs 2.7 per 100 person-years) compared to oral anticoagulant treatment without antidepressant use (aHR 1.42, 95% CI: 1.12–1.80), but not significantly associated with increased stroke rates (3.5 vs 2.1 per 100 person-years, aHR 1.23, 95% CI: 0.93–1.62). No significant differences were observed between different oral anticoagulant classes (i.e., warfarin or NOAC) or different antidepressant classes (i.e., SSRI, TCA, or other antidepressant). Additional propensity-score matched analyses yielded similar results but showed a significantly increased risk for stroke (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.08–2.02). Incidence rates of strokes and bleeds Conclusion Concomitant use of an oral anticoagulant and an antidepressant, irrespective of type, is associated with an increased bleeding risk. Increased awareness and a critical consideration for the need of an antidepressant is recommended in this population. Acknowledgement/Funding Swedish Heart Lung Foundation


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ir Kontopoulou-Griva ◽  
J Spiliotopoulou ◽  
L Digenopoulou ◽  
J Georgopoulos

One of the reasons why oral anticoagulants fell into disrepute is the absence of internationally acceptable standarised procedures for controlling the level of anticoagulation. This deplorable situation resulted in over and under coagulation and uncertainty in the therapeutic range. The International Normalised Ratio (INR) can safely be applied in patients on oral anticoagulants.We present two Groups of patients under long term anti coagulation, mainly because of prosthetic heart valves that have recently been added to our outpatients clinic. These patients were till then attended by two cardiologists with different attitudes on the intensity of the anticoagulant treatment. The thromboplastin reagent used is that of ox origin and the results are expressed on INR.The Group A with 32 patients had at the time that we started attending them an INR x = 1,80 ± 0,48 and a daily dose of acenocoumarol x = 1,65 ± 0,51.The Group B with 49 patients had an INR x = 2,75 ± 0,51 and a daily dose of acenocoumarol x = 2,52 ± 1,53.Seven patients of the Group A referred thrombotic complications, while three patients of the Group B referred transiant thrombotic complications.The statistical analysis with the t-test of the INR between the two Groups is p<0,001 while that of the thrombotic complication with the x2 is p<0,05.The introduction of the INR and the acceptance by the medical people of the necessity of the intense oral anticoagulant treatment especially on high risk patients with mechanical heart valves as is the majority of the presented patients, will minimize the thromboembolic complications without high risk of bleeding.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 1878-1878
Author(s):  
Alaa A. Muslimani ◽  
Timothy P. Spiro ◽  
Asif A. Chaudhry ◽  
Hamed A. Daw

Abstract Introduction: Patients (pts) with solid tumors and venous thromboembolic episodes (VTE) have a high risk of complications (recurrent VTE/bleeding) during oral anticoagulant treatment. However, few data are available in pts with lymphoma. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the frequency of complications during oral anticoagulant treatment in lymphoma pts. Methods: Charts of histologically proven non-Hodgkin’s (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) pts at our institution from January 1998 through April 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. After excluding pts with thrombocytosis, solid tumors, hypercoagulability or previous treatment with anticoagulants, pts with their first acute symptomatic VTE were identified (49 NHL, 8 HL). 31 were males and 26 females, with an age range of 40–89 years. The first symptomatic VTE was defined as lymphoma associated if the VTE occurred within 3 months before or after the biopsy diagnosis of the lymphoma but before chemotherapy. These VTE were confirmed by contrast venography or doppler ultrasound for venous thrombosis (neck and upper-lower extremities) and chest computed tomography, ventilation/perfusion scan, or pulmonary angiography for pulmonary embolism. Major bleeding was defined as bleeding that required transfusion, caused a drop of hemoglobin &gt; 2 g/dL, or occurred in critical sites. Minor bleeding was defined as any overt bleeding that required stopping the anticoagulant treatment but not fulfilling the definition of major bleeding. Results: All 57 pts were initially treated with high dose adjusted intravenous heparin or body weight adjusted low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). 46 pts were started on oral warfarin during the first 10 days of the initial treatment witch was continued for at least 3 months after discontinuing heparin. 11 pts received continuing LMWH and no warfarin. Recurrent VTE occurred in 14/46 pts on warfarin therapy. The international normalized ratio (INR) was within the therapeutic range (2.0–3.0) in 10/14 pts, and below the therapeutic INR (&lt; 2.0) in 4/14 pts. Death was directly correlated to recurrent VTE (massive pulmonary embolism) in 2 pts in the warfarin treated group; a third death was caused by massive intracranial bleeding. Major bleeding was documented in 6/46 pts (4 pts had an INR within the therapeutic range, 2 had INR &gt; 3), and minor bleeding in 9/46 pts. Recurrent VTE occurred in 1/11 pts treated with LMWH, major bleeding in 0/11 and minor bleeding in 3/11 pts with no deaths. Conclusions: Previous studies showed an overall incidence of 27.1% recurrent thrombosis and 5.4% major bleeding in pts with malignancy treated with oral anticoagulant for VTE. Our study showed 30.4% recurrent thrombosis and 13% major bleeding in pts with lymphoma. Most bleeding and thrombotic complications occurred with an INR within the therapeutic range (65%). The percentage of serious complications was very high during the use of warfarin (43.5%), and the death rate 6.5%, compared to 9% and 0% during the use of LMWH. A high failure rate of oral anticoagulant treatment in pts with lymphoma suggests the need for alternative treatment. Since the number of pts in this retrospective study is small, a prospective randomized, controlled study comparing warfarin with LMWH is indicated.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. LBA-2-LBA-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Roger Buller

Abstract Abstract LBA-2 Background: In a large proportion of patients that have completed 6 to 12 months of treatment with a vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for their acute episode of venous thromboembolism (VTE) the question arises whether to stop or continue this treatment. Continuation implies the need for regular laboratory control and subsequent dose adjustments. Furthermore, the risk of bleeding persists. New oral anticoagulants hold the promise of simple fixed-dose regimens without the need for monitoring and could make continuation of therapy more attractive. The Einstein-Extension study was therefore designed to assess the relative efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban, a direct oral factor Xa inhibitor, versus placebo in patients who had completed 6 to 12 months of anticoagulant treatment for their acute episode of VTE. Patients in whom there was a clear indication for continued anticoagulant treatment were not eligible. Study Design: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, superiority study evaluated therapy with rivaroxaban 20 mg once-daily for an additional 6 or 12 months. The primary efficacy outcome was symptomatic recurrent VTE (i.e., the composite of recurrent DVT, non-fatal PE, and fatal PE). The principal safety outcome was major bleeding. Also the occurrence of clinically relevant non-major bleeding (e.g. nose bleeds, large skin hematomas, and macroscopic hematuria) was recorded. The study was event-driven requiring a minimum of 30 confirmed recurrent events. All outcomes were adjudicated by an independent blinded committee. Results: A total of 1197 patients were randomized between February 2007 and May 2009 by 280 study sites in 28 countries. The intention-to-treat population consisted of 602 rivaroxaban and 594 placebo patients. Baseline characteristics and risk factors for VTE were comparable between the two groups. The mean duration of study treatment was 190 days in both groups. During the treatment period, symptomatic recurrent VTE events occurred in 42 (7.1%) of the placebo treated patients and in 8 (1.3%) of the rivaroxaban recipients (hazard ratio, 0.18; 95 % CI, 0.09 – 0.39; p< 0.0001). After the stop of study medication, 6 symptomatic recurrent VTE events occurred in each group during the one month observational period. Major bleeding did not occur in placebo patients and was observed in 4 (0.7%) rivaroxaban recipients (p=0.106). None of these bleeding events were fatal or in a critical site. Clinically relevant non-major bleeding was noted in 7 (1.2%) and 32 (5.4%) of the placebo and rivaroxaban recipients, respectively. Two (0.3%) patients in the placebo group died versus 1 (0.2%) in the rivaroxaban group. No patients were observed to have an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rise above 3 times the upper limit of normal (xULN) combined with a total bilirubin above 2 xULN. Conclusion: A fixed dose of 20 mg of rivaroxaban once-daily is associated with an 82% relative risk reduction in the recurrence of VTE in patients who had completed a 6 to 12 month course of anticoagulant therapy for their index event. Based on the estimated cumulative incidence rates, approximately, 15 patients need to be treated to prevent one recurrent VTE event. This clinically relevant reduction in recurrence was associated with a low incidence of major bleeding (0.7%). This oral once-daily regimen provides the clinician with a simple option for patients in whom continued anticoagulant treatment is indicated. Disclosures: Buller: Bayer Healthcare: Research Funding.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (9_suppl) ◽  
pp. 209S-216S ◽  
Author(s):  
Genevieve Claire Moyer ◽  
Bethany Samuelson Bannow ◽  
Courtney Thornburg ◽  
Rachel Rosovsky ◽  
Tzu-Fei Wang ◽  
...  

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a highly morbid condition with several available oral anticoagulant treatment options. Numerous studies have been published comparing warfarin to direct oral anticoagulants; however, several populations remain underrepresented in these reports. We surveyed members of The Venous ThromboEmbolism Network U.S. working group regarding their oral anticoagulant preferences for the treatment of VTE in different and challenging populations. In individuals with VTE and no other medical comorbidities, respondents preferred either rivaroxaban (48.7%) or apixaban (48.7%). Apixaban (53.3%) was preferred in elderly individuals with an increased risk of bleeding. Warfarin was preferred in individuals with liver or kidney dysfunction (42% and 47%), altered metabolism (>55%), and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (84.2%). Low-molecular-weight heparin was preferred in individuals with malignancy (56.6%), followed by edoxaban (23.7%). These findings may help guide clinicians when choosing an anticoagulant in these challenging situations and demonstrate the urgent need for additional study in these groups.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
K P Schofield ◽  
J M Thomson ◽  
L Poller

Protein C (PC) activity and antigen levels have been related to clotting activities of factors VII and X during the induction and withdrawal periods of oral anticoagulant treatment. Both factor VII and PC activities fell rapidly during a gradual induction regime of nicoumalone in six consecutive patients but factor VII showed a more rapid and much more marked depression than PC. In contrast reductions in factor X were much slower. PC antigen although depressed rapidly at the initiation of treatment did not subsequently fall to the same degree as PC activity, The ratio of activity to antigen became progressively smaller.In six further serial patients discontinued from long-term treatment with nicoumalone (mean duration 12-6 months) there was a reversal of the pattern, but with two important differences. Firstly, there was evidence of an excessive rise (“rebound”) of factor VII compared with the steady state levels in these patients; and secondly there was an unexpectedly slow return of PC activity and antigen to normal levels after the oral anticoagulant was withdrawn (levels were still below normal on day 4). Factor X also showed a slow rate of increase, similar to PC activity recovery. These observations lend support to gradual withdrawal of oral anticoagulants after a period of long-term administration. The results suggest that after discontinuation of long-term oral anticoagulants patients may have increased coagulability up to four days.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Masseria ◽  
Furaha Kariburyo ◽  
Jack Mardekian ◽  
Theodore C Lee ◽  
Yaniv Ravee ◽  
...  

Objectives: To describe the role of anticoagulant use, active cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) type on bleeding risk and VTE recurrence among cancer patients diagnosed with VTE. Methods: A retrospective observational analysis of the Humedica database between 01JAN2008 and 31MARCH2014 was conducted including adult patients (aged >18 years) with ≥2 VTE diagnosis claims (ICD-9-CM codes) in an outpatient setting or with one VTE diagnosis in an inpatient setting who had continuous health plan enrollment 6 months pre-index date. Active cancer patients were differentiated from cancer patients based on diagnosis codes during the baseline period. The incidence rate (in person-years) was calculated for major bleeding and VTE recurrence. Time-to-major bleeding and time-to-VTE recurrence were estimated using Kaplan-Meier curves; a Cox regression was applied to adjust for baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 72,224 cancer patients were identified, which included 8,222 active cancer patients. More than 70% of cancer patients were prescribed anticoagulants. The incidence rate of VTE recurrence (24.7 vs. 14.3 per 100 person-years) and major bleeding events (31.2 vs. 15.9 per 100 person-years) was higher among active cancer patients than all VTE cancer patients. The use of combination parenteral and oral anticoagulant treatment (hazard ratio [HR]=1.30, p<0.0001), active cancer (HR=1.10, p=0.0007) and having both pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as prior diagnoses (HR=1.17, P<0.0001) were significantly associated with an increased risk of major bleeding. Clinical predictors of VTE recurrence included active cancer (HR=1.35, p<0.0001) and having both PE and DVT as prior diagnoses (HR=1.32, p<0.0001). Patients treated with anticoagulants (HR=0.71, p<0.0001) were at a lower risk of VTE recurrence. Discussion: Active cancer and having both PE and DVT as prior diagnoses were associated with increased VTE recurrence and bleeding risk. The bleeding risk was also highest among patients undergoing parenteral and oral anticoagulant therapy. However, anticoagulant treatment was shown to be associated with a lower risk of VTE recurrence.


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