Anticoagulation after venous thromboembolism

2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (03) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Eichinger

SummaryDeciding on the optimal duration of anticoagulation is based on the risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and of bleeding during anticoagulation. The duration of anticoagulation should be at least three months since shorter courses double the recurrence rates.At three months anticoagulation can be stopped in patients with a VTE provoked by a transient risk factor, as the recurrence risk is expected to be lower than the bleeding risk during anticoagulation. Patients with unprovoked VTE are at higher risk of recurrence and prolonged anticoagulation is currently recommended.However, attempts are made to stratify these patients according to their recurrence risk and to identify those with a low recurrence risk who would not benefit from extended anticoagulation. Novel approaches to optimize the management of patients with unprovoked VTE are the use of prediction models which link clinical patient characteristics with laboratory testing to discriminate between patients with a low risk (who may discontinue anticoagulation) and those with high risk (in whom long term anticoagulation is justified). Moreover, new antithrombotic concepts including new oral anticoagulants or aspirin both of which potentially confer a lower bleeding risk and are more convenient for the patients have been explored for extended thromboprophylaxis.

Hemato ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-78
Author(s):  
Julie Wang ◽  
Hui Yin Lim ◽  
Prahlad Ho

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality and is associated with high recurrence rates. The introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in the 2010s has changed the landscape of VTE management. DOACs have become the preferred anticoagulant therapy for their ease of use, predictable pharmacokinetics, and improved safety profile. Increasingly, guidelines have recommended long term anticoagulation for some indications such as following first unprovoked major VTE, although an objective individualised risk assessment for VTE recurrence remains elusive. The balance of preventing VTE recurrence needs to be weighed against the not insignificant bleeding risk, which is cumulative with prolonged use. Hence, there is a need for an individualised, targeted approach for assessing the risk of VTE recurrence, especially in those patients in whom the balance between benefit and risk of long-term anticoagulation is not clear. Clinical factors alone do not provide the level of discrimination required on an individual level. Laboratory data from global coagulation assays and biomarkers may provide enhanced risk assessment ability and are an active area of research. A review of the prediction models and biomarkers for assessing VTE recurrence risk is provided, with an emphasis on contemporary developments in the era of DOACs and global coagulation assays.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-510
Author(s):  
Hannah C. Puhr ◽  
Lisbeth Eischer ◽  
Hana Šinkovec ◽  
Ludwig Traby ◽  
Paul A. Kyrle ◽  
...  

Abstract Patients with unprovoked deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) of the leg or pulmonary embolism (PE) have a high recurrence risk. How often these recurrences are provoked by a temporary risk condition is unknown. In a cohort of patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE), we evaluated the clinical circumstances of recurrence. We studied patients with DVT of the leg and/or PE. End point was recurrence of objectively verified symptomatic VTE. Provoked recurrence was defined according to guidance criteria. 1188 patients were followed for a median of 8.9 years after withdrawal of oral anticoagulants. 312 patients had recurrent VTE, which was provoked in 42 (13%). Recurrence was related to a major risk factor in 19, to a minor risk factor in 22, and to a persistent risk factor in one patient(s). 14 recurrences occurred after major surgery and 5 during hospitalization. Ten recurrences occurred after minor surgery, eight after trauma and three during female hormone intake. Four recurrences occurred during heparin prophylaxis. The incidence of provoked VTE recurrence appears to be low. VTE can recur when prevention is stopped or even during thromboprophylaxis. Surgery and trauma are frequent risk factors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (21) ◽  
pp. 5595-5606
Author(s):  
Fionnuala Ní Áinle ◽  
Barry Kevane

Abstract Recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE, or deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) is associated with mortality and long-term morbidity. The circumstances in which an index VTE event occurred are crucial when personalized VTE recurrence risk is assessed. Patients who experience a VTE event in the setting of a transient major risk factor (such as surgery associated with general anesthesia for >30 minutes) are predicted to have a low VTE recurrence risk following discontinuation of anticoagulation, and limited-duration anticoagulation is generally recommended. In contrast, those patients whose VTE event occurred in the absence of risk factors or who have persistent risk factors have a higher VTE recurrence risk. Here, we review the literature surrounding VTE recurrence risk in a range of clinical conditions. We describe gender-specific risks, including VTE recurrence risk following hormone- and pregnancy-associated VTE events. Finally, we discuss how the competing impacts of VTE recurrence and bleeding have shaped international guideline recommendations.


Hematology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 201-212
Author(s):  
Fionnuala Ní Áinle ◽  
Barry Kevane

Abstract Recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE, or deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) is associated with mortality and long-term morbidity. The circumstances in which an index VTE event occurred are crucial when personalized VTE recurrence risk is assessed. Patients who experience a VTE event in the setting of a transient major risk factor (such as surgery associated with general anesthesia for >30 minutes) are predicted to have a low VTE recurrence risk following discontinuation of anticoagulation, and limited-duration anticoagulation is generally recommended. In contrast, those patients whose VTE event occurred in the absence of risk factors or who have persistent risk factors have a higher VTE recurrence risk. Here, we review the literature surrounding VTE recurrence risk in a range of clinical conditions. We describe gender-specific risks, including VTE recurrence risk following hormone- and pregnancy-associated VTE events. Finally, we discuss how the competing impacts of VTE recurrence and bleeding have shaped international guideline recommendations.


TH Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 02 (01) ◽  
pp. e1-e7
Author(s):  
Marjolein Brekelmans ◽  
Harry Büller ◽  
Michele Mercuri ◽  
Walter Ageno ◽  
Cathy Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractPulmonary embolism (PE) studies used direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with or without initial heparin. We aimed to (1) evaluate if PE patients benefit from initial heparin; (2) describe patient characteristics in the DOAC studies; and (3) investigate whether the anatomical extent of PE correlates with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels, cause of PE, and recurrence rate. Our methods were (1) an indirect meta-analysis comparing the recurrence risk in DOAC-treated patients with or without initial heparin to those patients given heparin/vitamin K antagonist (VKA). (2) To compare the PE studies, information was extracted on baseline characteristics including anatomical extent. (3) The Hokusai-VTE study was used to correlate anatomical extent of PE with NT-proBNP levels, causes of PE, and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). The meta-analysis included 11,539 PE patients. The relative risk of recurrent VTE with DOACs versus heparin/VKAs was 0.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–1.1) with heparin lead-in and 1.1 (95% CI: 0.8–1.5) without heparin. In the DOAC studies, the proportion of patients with extensive PE varied from 24 to 47%. In Hokusai-VTE, NT-proBNP was elevated in 4% of patients with limited and in over 60% of patients with extensive disease. Cause of PE and anatomical extent were not related. Recurrence rates increased from 1.6% with limited to 3.2% with extensive disease in heparin/edoxaban-treated patients, and from 2.4 to 3.9% in heparin/warfarin recipients. In conclusion, indirect evidence suggests a heparin lead-in before DOACs may be advantageous in PE. Anatomical extent was related to elevated NT-proBNP and outcome, but not to PE cause.


2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (01) ◽  
pp. 07-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Lindhoff-Last

SummaryRecurrent venous thromboembolism is associated with increased mortality in 5–9% of the patients. On the other hand prolonged anticoagulation can increase the bleeding risk which can also be responsible for an increased mortality. Therefore, it is necessary to validate the recurrence risk of venous thromboembolism on an individual basis.In this review the most relevant risk factors for recurrent venous thromboembolism are analyzed. Spontaneous thrombosis is associated with significantly increased recurrence rates in comparison to risk associated venous thrombosis. In addition, a positive D-dimer result after stop of anticoagulation, an increased amount of residual thrombus in proximal veins analyzed by compression sonography, a proximal localization of thrombosis, symptomatic pulmonary embolism and male sex are clinically relevant risk factors for increased recurrence rates. While mild thrombophilic defects like heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation are not associated with a clinically relevant recurrence risk, inherited inhibitor deficiencies and the anti-phospholipid-syndrome are known to be responsible for an increased recurrence rate of venous thromboembolism. A new recurrence risk-score (RR-Score) for individual judgement of patients with a first spontaneous venous thrombosis is introduced.


2014 ◽  
Vol 112 (09) ◽  
pp. 511-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Bellesini ◽  
Matteo Nicola Dario Di Minno ◽  
Nicola Mumoli ◽  
Fulvio Pomero ◽  
Massimo Franchini ◽  
...  

SummaryBleeding is a common and feared complication of oral anticoagulant therapy. Several prediction models have been recently developed, but there is a lack of evidence in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of this study was to validate currently available bleeding risk scores during long-term oral anticoagulation for VTE. We retrospectively included adult patients on vitamin K antagonists for VTE secondary prevention, followed by five Italian Anticoagulation Clinics (Cuneo, Livorno, Mantova, Napoli, Varese), between January 2010 and August 2012. All bleeding events were classified as major bleeding (MB) or clinically-relevant-non-major-bleeding (CRNMB). A total of 681 patients were included (median age 63 years; 52.0% female). During a mean follow-up of 8.82 (± 3.59) months, 50 bleeding events occurred (13 MB and 37 CRNMB), for an overall bleeding incidence of 9.99/100 patient-years. The rate of bleeding was higher in the first three months of treatment (15.86/100 patient-years) than afterwards (7.13/100 patient-years). The HAS-BLED showed the best predictive value for bleeding complications during the first three months of treatment (area under the curve [AUC] 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.78), while only the ACCP score showed a modest predictive value after the initial three months (AUC 0.61, 95%CI 0.51–0.72). These two scores had also the highest sensitivity and the highest negative predictive value. None of the scores predicted MB better than chance. Currently available bleeding risk scores had only a modest predictive value for patients with VTE. Future studies should aim at the creation of a new prediction rule, in order to better define the risk of bleeding of VTE patients.


2012 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 121-125
Author(s):  
I. Pabinger ◽  
C. Ay

SummaryCancer is a major and independent risk factor of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In clinical practice, a high number of VTE events occurs in patients with cancer, and treatment of cancerassociated VTE differs in several aspects from treatment of VTE in the general population. However, treatment in cancer patients remains a major challenge, as the risk of recurrence of VTE as well as the risk of major bleeding during anticoagulation is substantially higher in patients with cancer than in those without cancer. In several clinical trials, different anticoagulants and regimens have been investigated for treatment of acute VTE and secondary prophylaxis in cancer patients to prevent recurrence. Based on the results of these trials, anticoagulant therapy with low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) has become the treatment of choice in cancer patients with acute VTE in the initial period and for extended and long-term anticoagulation for 3-6 months. New oral anticoagulants directly inhibiting thrombin or factor Xa, have been developed in the past decade and studied in large phase III clinical trials. Results from currently completed trials are promising and indicate their potential use for treatment of VTE. However, the role of the new oral thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors for VTE treatment in cancer patients still has to be clarified in further studies specifically focusing on cancer-associated VTE. This brief review will summarize the current strategies of initial and long-term VTE treatment in patients with cancer and discuss the potential use of the new oral anticoagulants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (14) ◽  
pp. 56-67
Author(s):  
Arslan Say ◽  
Abdülkadir ÇAKMAK ◽  
Gökhan KESKİN ◽  
Erdinç PELİT ◽  
Yılmaz ÖZBAY

Aim: New generation anticoagulants rapidly find a wider area of use in the clinic due to the use problems of other oral anticoagulants. Anticoagulants such as Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban with safer treatment intervals have been accepted in clinical practice guidelines and have taken their place as preferred drugs. In this study, we aimed to retrospectively examine the effects of three new-generation anticoagulant drugs on a group of patients. Material and Methods: In this retrospectively planned study, patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (n = 522) were divided into three groups according to the drugs used for treatment (Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban). Routine blood values of the patients in each group were retrospectively scanned according to age, gender, time of drug initiation and presence of chronic disease. Results: According to the results obtained, it was found that the mean HCT, BUN, AST, ALT, MPV, Iron, and Ferritin were higher in patients using Apixaban than those using Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban drugs, but the age, average values of Hgb1 Hgb2, Hgb1, PLT, CrCl, Gfr and INR of the patients using Apixaban lower than those using Dabigatran and Rivaroxaban. The highest rate (22.5%) was found in the group of patients taking apixaban (n=93) when people taking the drugs were examined in terms of mortality. Conclusion: It has been observed that Rivaroxaban can be used more safely in patients with a history of acute cancer and thrombosis, patients with recurrent venous thromboembolism, and patients with high frailty, three drugs should be preferred instead of oral anticoagulants.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document