Factors Associated with Pulmonary Embolism Recurrence and the Benefits of Long-term Anticoagulant Therapy

Purpose: to identify the factors associated with the development of death events during the year follow-up after hospitalization for pulmonary embolism (PE). Materials and methods: 93 patients with PE discharged to the outpatient stage of observation were studied. 45 (61,6%) patients were female with an average age of 66 years. The examination of patients at the stage of inclusion in the study consisted of standard methods of examination for this pathology. The diagnosis was confirmed by multislice computed tomography. Follow-up was 12 months. Statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc Version 16.2.1. Results: during the one-year follow-up period 62 (66,7%) patients with PE were alive but 11 patients (11,8%) died, and no information was obtained about 20 patients. The causes of death were as follows: the development of recurrent PE – 4 (36,4%) patients, cancer – 3 patients (27,3%), stroke – 2 (18,1%), one patient (9,1%) died due to severe heart failure and one – myocardial infarction. A comparative analysis in the groups of alive patients (n = 62) and patients with a fatal events (n = 11) showed that the dead patients were older (78 (68; 81) vs. 65 (49; 75) years; p = 0,003), had a higher PESI score (119,0 (99,7; 137,2) vs. 88,0 (68,0; 108,0); p = 0,016) and were less compliant to prolonged anticoagulant therapy during the one year of observation (45,5% of patients (n = 5) vs. 82,3% ( = 51); p = 0,015). The ROC curve determined that a high risk of death during the one year after PE is associated with age over 70 years (p = 0,0001) and more than 95 points by PESI in the hospital period (p = 0,0001). Conclusion: The death events were developed in 11,8% of cases in patients with pulmonary embolism during the first year of follow-up. The death outcomes were significantly associated with elderly age, intermediate and high risk by PESI in the hospital period and low compliance to anticoagulant therapy extended during the year after pulmonary embolism.

Download Full-text

Coagulation status in patients with pulmonary embolism receiving long-term anticoagulant therapy

CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY AND PREVENTION ◽

10.15829/1728-8800-2021-3093 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 20 (8) ◽

pp. 3093

Author(s):

E. A. Shmidt ◽

S. A. Berns ◽

T. Yu. Penskaya ◽

I. I. Zhidkova ◽

O. V. Gruzdeva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Blood Coagulation ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Thrombin Generation ◽

Fibrin Clot ◽

Coagulation Rate ◽

Integral Methods ◽

Coagulation Status ◽

Generation Test

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.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text

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.

Download Full-text