Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma associated with low-molecular-weight heparin

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 612-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoon-Hee Cha ◽  
John H. Chi ◽  
Nicholas M. Barbaro

✓ Spinal subdural hematomas (SDHs) are a rare cause of cord compression and typically occur in the setting of spinal instrumentation or coagulopathy. The authors report the first case of a spontaneous spinal SDH occurring in conjunction with low-molecular-weight heparin use in a patient with a history of spinal radiotherapy.

2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 953-959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jari Siironen ◽  
Seppo Juvela ◽  
Joona Varis ◽  
Matti Porras ◽  
Kristiina Poussa ◽  
...  

Object. From the moment an intracranial aneurysm ruptures, cerebral blood flow is impaired, and this impairment mainly determines the outcome in patients who survive after the initial bleeding. The exact mechanism of impairment is unknown, but activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis correlate with clinical condition and outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The purpose of this study was to determine whether enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, which is a well-known anticoagulating agent, has any effect on the outcome of aneurysmal SAH postoperatively. Methods. In this randomized, double-blind, single-center clinical trial, 170 patients (85 per group) with aneurysmal SAH were randomly assigned to receive either enoxaparin (40 mg subcutaneously once daily) or a placebo, starting within 24 hours after occlusion of the aneurysm and continuing for 10 days. Analysis was done on an intention-to-treat basis. Outcome was assessed at 3 months on both the Glasgow Outcome and modified Rankin Scales. Patients were eligible for the study if surgery was performed within 48 hours post-SAH, and no intracerebral hemorrhage was larger than 20 mm in diameter on the first postoperative computerized tomography scan. At 3 months, there were no significant differences in outcome by treatment group. Of the 170 patients, 11 (6%) died, and only 95 (56%) had a good outcome. Principal causes of unfavorable outcome were poor initial condition, delayed cerebral ischemia, and surgical complications. There were four patients with additional intracranial bleeding in the group receiving enoxaparin. The bleeding was not necessarily associated with the treatment itself, nor did it require treatment, and there were no such patients in the placebo group. Conclusions. Enoxaparin seemed to have no effect on the outcome of aneurysmal SAH in patients who had already received routine nimodipine and who had received triple-H therapy when needed. Routine use of low-molecular-weight heparin should be avoided during the early postoperative period in patients with SAH, because this agent seems to increase intracranial bleeding complications slightly, with no beneficial effect on neurological outcome.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Stav Gazal ◽  
Eyal Lebel ◽  
Yosef Kalish ◽  
Chen Makranz ◽  
Moshe E. Gatt ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent, potentially lethal complication in individuals with cancer. Patients with brain tumors are at particularly high risk for VTE. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare subtype of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, involving the craniospinal axis. The incidence of VTE in patients with PCNSL was reported as very high, occurring mostly in the early period of therapy. <b><i>Objectives:</i></b> We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) throughout the treatment of PCNSL. <b><i>Patients:</i></b> All patients &#x3e;18 years of age diagnosed and treated for PCNSL at our institution in 2005–2017 were included. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were 44 patients; mean age at diagnosis was 61.5 years. Three patients (6.8%) had a personal history of thrombosis, 11 (25%) had a history of diabetes or smoking, and 32 (72%) had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0–1 at diagnosis. During treatment with LMWH, no VTE events were recorded; 2 (4.5%) patients experienced a minor bleeding event and 1 (2.3%) a major bleeding event. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Among our 44 patients with PCNSL treated with prophylactic LMWH, no VTE events were recorded, and only 1 (asymptomatic) intracranial bleed was recorded. Within the limitations of a retrospective nonrandomized study, our findings suggest that VTE prophylaxis may be beneficial for individuals with PCNSL.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 489-489
Author(s):  
Simon Mantha ◽  
Kenneth A. Bauer ◽  
Jeffrey I Zwicker

Abstract 489 The management of recurrent pregnancy loss is uncertain. Some cohort studies have identified an association between inherited thrombophilias and recurrent or late-nonrecurrent pregnancy loss which has prompted investigators to evaluate the benefit of low molecular weight heparin to achieve live birth. A similar benefit for low molecular weight heparin has also been proposed independent of thrombophilia status. A recent Cochrane Review on this topic included the results of a single randomized trial in their analysis. As there are several recent randomized trials using low molecular weight heparin in women with recurrent pregnancy loss published in the obstetrical literature, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the benefit of low molecular weight heparin in women who experienced unexplained recurrent or late-nonrecurrent pregnancy loss. Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the benefit of low molecular weight heparin versus a non-anticoagulant control arm in women with a history of ≥2 early pregnancy losses or ≥1 late pregnancy loss; we excluded women with antiphospholipid antibodies and those with an underlying cause of recurrent fetal loss, except for the hereditary thrombophilias. We planned to use random-effects analysis as the primary summary model due to the anticipated variations in enrollment criteria and interventions between the studies. Results: A total of 757 women were enrolled in five studies that satisfied the eligibility criteria. Using the random effects model, the risk ratio of fetal loss for low molecular weight heparin versus control was 0.49 (0.25-0.97 95% CI, P=0.04). There was significant heterogeneity observed between studies (Q-value was 15.59, P=0.004, and I2=74.33%). A priori, we identified the presence or absence of a hereditary thrombophilia as a potential source of heterogeneity. However, subgroup analysis of the studies according to the inclusion or exclusion of women with hereditary thrombophilia did not resolve the observed heterogeneity between studies. Exclusion of the only trial that enrolled women following a non-recurrent pregnancy loss improved the observed heterogeneity but diminished the apparent benefit of low molecular weight heparin (0.63, 95% CI 0.34-1.16, P=0.14). In this trial, the observed birth rate in the control arm was significantly lower than in the other two trials included in this meta-analysis with aspirin-only controls (29% versus 84% or 87% in aspirin-only arms, P<0.001). Conclusion: There is a trend for increased live births when using low molecular weight heparin for the prevention of recurrent pregnancy loss. However, considering the observed heterogeneity across studies, there is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of low molecular weight heparin to improve pregnancy outcomes in women with a history of pregnancy loss. Disclosures: Off Label Use: low molecular weight heparin to prevent pregnancy loss. Bauer:Bayer Healthcare: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Speakers Bureau; GTC Biotherapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zwicker:Sanofi-Aventis: Research Funding.


Lupus ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 95-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Cowchock

Women with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL = IgG anticardiolipin and/or lupus anticoagulants) and a history of either prior thrombotic events or pregnancy loss are at high risk during pregnancy for either another fetal death or thrombosis. The treatment of choice is anticoagulation with heparin. Both standard unfractionated heparin and low-molecular-weight heparin are used for prophylactic anticoagulation during pregnancy. The half-lives of either standard heparin, or low-molecular-weight heparin, and the peak values for each after subcutaneous injection, are lower than those in nonpregnant patients. Doses and injection intervals need to be adjusted when treating a pregnant woman. Clotting tests such as the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) vary greatly during pregnancy, and the aPTT is often not even prolonged when antithrombotic levels of heparin are achieved. The aPTT is not a useful test when the patient has a lupus anticoagulant. Levels of plasma heparin are therefore needed to best care for pregnant women who need anticoagulation—even for prophylaxis. Low-dose aspirin is often added empirically to heparin for treatment of aPL during pregnancy, but its efficacy has not been evaluated. Intravenous infusions of gamma globulins (IVGG) have been used as additional therapy when prior treatment with heparin during pregnancy failed to save the fetus, when severe and early onset preeclampsia has complicated a prior pregnancy (in such cases efficacy is unproven), or when there is an additional medical complication (such as immune thrombocytopenia) for which IVGG is an appropriate treatment. There are some situations in which treatment with corticosteroids is the best, or the only choice. However, corticosteroids should not be combined with heparin for long-term treatment during pregnancy because the risk for vertebral fracture is so high.


1989 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 929-931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Müfit Kalelioğlu ◽  
Gönül Aktürk ◽  
Fadiil Aktürk ◽  
Sezer Ş. Komsuoğlu ◽  
Kayhan Kuzeyü ◽  
...  

✓ Cerebral myiasis with a 10-day history of convulsions due to an intracerebral hematoma caused by a Hypoderma bovis larva is reported in an 8-year-old child. Computerized tomography (CT) showed the hematoma in a right parieto-occipital location. The H. bovis larva and the extensive intracerebral hematoma were discovered during surgery. Among human parasitoses, cerebral myiasis is rare: a review of the literature revealed only two reports, one published in 1969 and one in 1980. This is the first case that has been diagnosed as cerebral myiasis with exact identification of the Hypoderma bovis larva both from the CT scans and at surgery in a patient during life.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Croteau ◽  
Stuart Walbridge ◽  
Paul F. Morrison ◽  
John A. Butman ◽  
Alexander O. Vortmeyer ◽  
...  

Object. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is increasingly used to distribute therapeutic agents to locations in the central nervous system. The optimal application of convective distribution of various agents requires the development of imaging tracers to monitor CED in vivo in real time. The authors examined the safety and utility of an iodine-based low-molecular-weight surrogate tracer for computerized tomography (CT) scanning during CED. Methods. Various volumes (total volume range 90–150 µ1) of iopamidol (MW 777 D) were delivered to the cerebral white matter of four primates (Macaca mulatta) by using CED. The distribution of this imaging tracer was determined by in vivo real-time and postinfusion CT scanning (≤ 5 days after infusion [one animal]) as well as by quantitative autoradiography (14C-sucrose [all animals] and 14C-dextran [one animal]), and compared with a mathematical model. Clinical observation (≤ 5 months) and histopathological analyses were used to evaluate the safety and toxicity of the tracer delivery. Real-time CT scanning of the tracer during infusion revealed a clearly definable region of perfusion. The volume of distribution (Vd) increased linearly (r2 = 0.97) with an increasing volume of infusion (Vi). The overall Vd/Vi ratio was 4.1 ± 0.7 (mean ± standard deviation) and the distribution of infusate was homogeneous. Quantitative autoradiography confirmed the accuracy of the imaged distribution for a small (sucrose, MW 359 D) and a large (dextran, MW 70 kD) molecule. The distribution of the infusate was identifiable up to 72 hours after infusion. There was no clinical or histopathological evidence of toxicity in any animal. Conclusions. Real-time in vivo CT scanning of CED of iopamidol appears to be safe, feasible, and suitable for monitoring convective delivery of drugs with certain features and low infusion volumes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuya Ishikawa ◽  
Kiyohiro Houkin ◽  
Kouichi Tokuda ◽  
Susumu Kawaguchi ◽  
Takeshi Kashiwaba

✓ Dural arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are considered to be acquired lesions that develop secondary to venous obstruction, which sometimes happens in head trauma. However, there has been a report of an anterior cranial fossa dural AVM that occurred independently of a history of head trauma, and there has been speculation that these malformations are congenital. The authors recount their experience with a patient who had an anterior cranial fossa dural AVM that was discovered incidentally. The lesion was fed by the bilateral anterior ethmoidal arteries and drained into the superior sagittal sinus via frontal cortical veins. The patient had a history of severe head trauma that had occurred 30 years earlier. This is the first case report in which a previous head trauma is strongly believed to be the cause of an anterior cranial fossa dural AVM. The authors postulate that anterior cranial fossa dural AVMs can develop secondary to a head trauma.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 15-19

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a heterogeneous reproductive problem with multiple aetiologies and contributing factors. It becomes quite challenging to form a work-up to detect the cause of RPL in the early months as a continuation of pregnancy involves many factors. In more than half of all recurrent miscarriage the cause still remains uncertain. Thrombophilia has been identified in about 50% of women with recurrent miscarriage and thromboprophylaxis has been suggested as an option of treatment.. In obstetric APLA Syndrome (Antiphospholipid antibody) the combination of aspirin and heparin has improved outcomes. The use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has become a common practise in women with inherited thrombophilia and also those with unexplained miscarriage to help safeguard the ongoing pregnancy. To evaluate if there is any effectiveness of low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin) in women with a history of at least two miscarriages without any apparent aetiology for recurrent pregnancy loss. A prospective randomised controlled study held at Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences, Kolkata from August 2015- July 2018. The study assessed the effect of anticoagulant treatment on the live-birth rate (primary outcome) in 80 antenatal women with a history of at least two miscarriages without any apparent causes. Interventions included low molecular weight heparin administration in one group and the other one was not given any anti-coagulant therapy. Similar live birth rates were observed with enoxaparin and the patients who did not receive any anti-coagulant, respectively 84% and 82% (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.16). There were no significant differences in live birth weight and other pregnancy outcomes between the two groups. Therefore, there is no evidence to support any incremental benefit of adding LMWH to the treatment as a routine in unexplained cases of recurrent pregnancy loss.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2993-2993
Author(s):  
Deborah Rund ◽  
Stav Gazal ◽  
Yosef Kalish ◽  
Chen Makranz ◽  
Neta Goldschmidt

Abstract Introduction: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent, potentially lethal, complication in patients with cancer. Patients with brain tumors are at a particularly high risk for VTE. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, involving the cranio-spinal axis. The incidence of VTE in patients with PCNSL is as high as 30-60% in various series, occurring mostly in the early period of therapy. Due to this high incidence, the policy in our medical center since the year 2005, is to treat with prophylactic low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) from the time of PCNSL diagnosis until the end of treatment. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of VTE in patients with PCNSL treated with prophylactic LMWH. Material and methods: All patients ≥18 years who were diagnosed and treated for PCNSL in Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center between the years 2005-2017 were included in the study. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records for demographic details and initial disease characteristics (age at diagnosis, sex, performance status, laboratory results such as LDH, cerebrospinal fluid content and location of the growth), for details of risk factors for VTE such as diabetes, smoking or heart failure, and for personal or familial history of thrombosis. Therapeutic details including chemotherapy protocol, response to treatment and supportive care were compiled. Specifically we noted if prophylactic LMWH was given, if any complications developed due to the LMWH treatment and whether a VTE event occurred. Results: Forty four patients were included in the study. Mean age at diagnosis was 60.2 years and there were 27 (61%) females. Three (6.8%) patients had a personal history of thrombosis and 13 (29%) had a history of diabetes or smoking. Thirty two (72%) had an ECOG performance study of 0-1 at diagnosis and seven (16%) had leptomeningeal involvement. Forty one (93%) of patients were treated with a systemic high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) based protocol (mean of 7.6 courses of HDMTX per patient) and thirty two (73%) patients were treated with systemic rituximab. All 44 patients were treated with prophylactic LMWH, mostly at a dose of 40 mg per day (41 patients, 93%). Of the 44 patients, five (11%) discontinued treatment; 2 due to side effects (abnormal liver function tests and subdural hematoma (SDH)) and 3 for an unknown reason. Three (7%) patients had a minor bleeding event (gum, conjunctival, Ommaya reservoir catheter tract). One patient (2.3%) had a major bleeding event (SDH) while on LMWH treatment which was found on routine MRI imaging of the brain as he was asymptomatic. No VTE events (0%) were recorded in patients treated with LMWH. Two patients had a VTE, however both patients were off LMWH treatment at the time of VTE (one stopped LMWH, the other was diagnosed with VTE concurrently with the diagnosis of PCNSL). Conclusions: In our group of 44 PCNSL patients, prophylactic use of LMWH was highly effective, with no VTE events. Two cases of VTE occurred in our patient group, both occurred while the patients were off LMWH treatment. Only one, asymptomatic, intracranial bleed was recorded, indicating the relative safety of this treatment in PCNSL patients. Further prospective studies should be done to support the routine use of this prophylactic strategy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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