Long-term Anticoagulant Therapy for Idiopathic Pulmonary Embolism in the Elderly

Aim. To study the blood coagulation status by various laboratory methods in patients after pulmonary embolism (PE) receiving long-term anticoagulant therapy.Material and methods. The blood of 23 patients with pulmonary embolism, who received long-term anticoagulant therapy, was studied. The study of coagulation profile, D-dimer, thrombodynamics, thromboelastography and thrombin generation test were carried out.Results. The thrombin generation test shows a significant increase in the time of its formation, while the maximum amount of thrombin formed is half that of the reference values. There is a slightly increased median fibrin clot growth rate in the thrombodynamics test — 30,4 gm/min with a normal coagulation rate of 20-29 gm/min. The result of thromboelastography also reflects the blood hypocoagulation, in terms of R, Angle a and CI.Conclusion. Integral methods for assessing the thrombotic readiness in combination with a routine coagulation panel demonstrate a complete picture of blood coagulation potential in patients after pulmonary embolism requiring long-term anticoagulant therapy.

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Low-dose urokinase thrombolytic therapy for patients with acute intermediate-high-risk pulmonary embolism: A retrospective cohort study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0248603 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0248603

Author(s):

Cuilian Weng ◽

Xincai Wang ◽

Long Huang ◽

Xingsheng Lin ◽

Qinghua Liu

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

High Risk ◽

Thrombolytic Therapy ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Low Dose ◽

Therapy Group ◽

Minor Bleeding ◽

Short Term

Introduction Patients at intermediate-high risk of developing a pulmonary embolism (PE) are very likely to experience adverse outcomes, such as cardiovascular instability and death. The role of thrombolytic therapy in intermediate-high-risk PE remains controversial. Objectives This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of low-dose urokinase (UK) thrombolytic therapy for intermediate-high-risk PE. Patients and methods This retrospective study included 81 consecutive patients with intermediate-high-risk PE from two centers. Patients received low-dose UK or low-molecular-weight heparin (anticoagulant therapy group). The efficacy outcomes were mortality, computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA)-confirmed absorption, and dyspnea. Safety was assessed as the incidence of bleedings. Results The in-hospital mortality, 9-month mortality, and long-term mortality at the last follow-up were comparable for the low-dose UK group and the anticoagulant therapy group (6.45% vs. 0%, p = 0.144, 9.68% vs. 8.16%, p = 0.815, and 12.90% vs. 12.24%, p = 0.931, respectively). CTPA-confirmed absorption at one month after admission was higher in the low-dose UK group than in the anticoagulant therapy group (p = 0.016). The incidences of short-term dyspnea at discharge and long-term dyspnea at the last follow-up were lower in the low-dose UK group than in the anticoagulant therapy group (27.59% vs. 52%, p = 0.035, 33.33% vs. 58.14%, p = 0.043, respectively). No major bleeding occurred. The incidence of minor bleeding was not significantly different between the two groups (3.23% vs. 6%, p = 0.974). Conclusion In intermediate-high-risk PE, a low-dose UK might increase CTPA-confirmed absorption and improve short-term and long-term dyspnea without affecting mortality or increasing the bleeding risk.

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Duration of anticoagulant therapy for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2013-12-512681 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 123 (12) ◽

pp. 1794-1801 ◽

Cited By ~ 127

Author(s):

Clive Kearon ◽

Elie A. Akl

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Deep Vein Thrombosis ◽

High Risk ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Low Risk ◽

Risk Of Recurrence ◽

Vein Thrombosis ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Deep Vein

Abstract It takes about 3 months to complete “active treatment” of venous thromboembolism (VTE), with further treatment serving to prevent new episodes of thrombosis (“pure secondary prevention”). Consequently, VTE should generally be treated for either 3 months or indefinitely (exceptions will be described in the text). The decision to stop anticoagulants at 3 months or to treat indefinitely is dominated by the long-term risk of recurrence, and secondarily influenced by the risk of bleeding and by patient preference. VTE provoked by a reversible risk factor, or a first unprovoked isolated distal (calf) deep vein thrombosis (DVT), has a low risk of recurrence and is usually treated for 3 months. VTE associated with active cancer, or a second unprovoked VTE, has a high risk of recurrence and is usually treated indefinitely. The decision to stop anticoagulants at 3 months or to treat indefinitely is more finely balanced after a first unprovoked proximal DVT or pulmonary embolism (PE). Indefinite anticoagulation is often chosen if there is a low risk of bleeding, whereas anticoagulation is usually stopped at 3 months if there is a high risk of bleeding. The decision to continue anticoagulation indefinitely after a first unprovoked proximal DVT or PE is strengthened if the patient is male, the index event was PE rather than DVT, and/or d-dimer testing is positive 1 month after stopping anticoagulant therapy.

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A Comparison of GFR Calculated by Cockcroft-Gault vs. MDRD Formula in the Prognostic Assessment of Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Disease Markers ◽

10.1155/2021/6655958 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Magdalena Pływaczewska ◽

David Jiménez ◽

Mareike Lankeit ◽

Piotr Pruszczyk ◽

Maciej Kostrubiec

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Roc Curves ◽

The Elderly ◽

Term Outcome ◽

Long Term Outcome ◽

Prognostic Assessment ◽

Hospitalised Patients

Introduction. Risk stratification is mandatory for optimal management of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (APE). Previous studies indicated that renal dysfunction predicts outcome and can improve risk assessment in APE. Aim. The aim of the study was a comparison of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) formulas, MDRD, and Cockcroft-Gault (CG), in the prognostic assessment of patients with APE. Materials and Methods. Data from 2274 (1147 M/1127 F, median 71 years) hospitalised patients with APE prospectively included in a multicenter, observational, cohort study were analysed. A serum creatinine measurement as a routine laboratory parameter at the cooperating centers and eGFR calculation were performed on admission. Patients were followed for 180 days. The primary outcome was death from any cause within 30 days. Results. The eGFR levels assessed by both, MDRD (eGFRMDRD) and CG formula (eGFRCG), were highest in patients with low-risk APE and lowest in high-risk APE. The eGFR (using both methods) was significantly lower in nonsurvivors compared to survivors. Using a threshold of <60 ml/min/1.73 m2, eGFRMDRD revealed the primary outcome with sensitivity 67%, specificity 52%, PPV 8%, and NPV 97%, while eGFRCG had a sensitivity 62%, specificity 62%, PPV 8.6%, and NPV 96%. The area under the ROC curve for eGFRCG tended to be higher than that for eGFRMDRD: 0.658 (95% CI: 0.608-0.709) vs. 0.631 (95% CI: 0.578-0.683), p = 0.12 . A subanalysis of ROC curves in a population above 65 yrs showed a higher AUC for eGFRCG than based on MDRD. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a worse long-term outcome in patients with impaired renal function. Conclusion. eGFRMDRD and eGFRCG assessed on admission significant short- and long-term mortality predictors in patients with APE. The eGFRCG seems to be a slightly better 30-day mortality predictor than eGFRMDRD in the elderly.

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