Pseudo liposarcomatous plasma cells in a patient with liposarcoma and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.

First, patients may always develop a second severe illness, even a second cancer. Second, things are not always as they are expected to be. So, careful diagnosis is mandatory.

Kaolin-based activated coagulation time measured by sonoclot in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objectives: In vivo data for the kaolin-based ACT test from the Sonoclot Analyzer (SkACT, Sienco Inc, Arvada, CO) are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare SkACT with an established kaolin-based ACT from Hemochron (HkACT) and anti-Xa activity in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Design: Prospective observational study.

Monitoring activated clotting time for combined heparin and aprotinin application: in vivo evaluation of a new aprotinin-insensitive test using Sonoclot.

Objective: Kaolin-based activated clotting time assessed by HEMOCHRON (HkACT) is a clinical standard for heparin monitoring alone and combined with aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However, aprotinin is known to prolong not only celite-based but also kaolin-based activated clotting time. Overestimation of activated clotting times implies a potential hazardous risk of subtherapeutic heparin anticoagulation.

The predictive characteristics of D-dimer testing in outpatients with suspected venous thromboembolism: a Bayesian approach.

Background: Despite the widespread use of quantitative methods to measure D-dimer, clinical decisions commonly are based only on binary test information (positive/negative). This study aimed to determine the significance of quantitative D-dimer results in the evaluation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) by means of a differentiated Bayesian approach.

Methods: Prospective study in 118 outpatients referred for workup of suspected pulmonary embolism (n = 75) or deep vein thrombosis (n = 43).