Statin use and venous thromboembolism recurrence: a combined nationwide cohort and nested case-control study.

Background: Data on statins' effect on venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence are conflicting.

Objectives: We examined whether statin use was associated with reduced risk of recurrent VTE in a nationwide population-based setting.

Patients/methods: Using the Danish National Patient Registry, we identified first-time and recurrent VTEs between 1 July 2004 and 31 December 2012 (n = 27,862).

Efficacy and safety of vitamin K-antagonists (VKA) for atrial fibrillation in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease.

Background: Essential information regarding efficacy and safety of vitamin K-antagonists (VKA) treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) in non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still lacking in current literature. The aim of our study was to compare the risks of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and major bleeds between patients without CKD (eGFR >60 ml/min), and those with moderate (eGFR 30-60 ml/min), or severe non-dialysis dependent CKD (eGFR <30 ml/min).

Methods: We included 300 patients without CKD, 294 with moderate, and 130 with severe non-dialysis dependent CKD, who were matched for age and sex.

The increased risk of venous thromboembolism by advancing age cannot be attributed to the higher incidence of cancer in the elderly: the Tromsø study.

Unlabelled: Whether the high incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the elderly can be attributed to cancer is not well studied. We assessed the impact of cancer on risk of VTE in young, middle-aged and elderly. 26,094 subjects without a history of cancer or VTE were recruited from the Tromsø study.

High levels of procoagulant factors mediate the association between free thyroxine and the risk of venous thrombosis: the MEGA study.

Background: Thyroid hormone affects the coagulation system, but its effect on clinical disease is not clear. We determined the associations of levels of free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (antiTPO) with levels of coagulation factors and the risk of venous thrombosis.

Methods: In a large population based case-control study (Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment of risk factors for venous thrombosis study) on the etiology of venous thrombosis, we determined the levels of FT4, TSH, antiTPO, factor FII, FVII, FVIII, FIX, FX, von Willebrand factor (VWF), antithrombin, protein C, protein S and fibrinogen in 2177 cases and 2826 controls.

Pulse wave velocity and flow in the carotid artery versus the aortic arch: effects of aging.

Purpose: To explore differences in arterial stiffness of the aorta and carotid artery, assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), to evaluate the blood flow volume distribution towards the carotid circulation and to assess the effect of aging on the coupling between aortic and carotid PWV using velocity-encoded magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: Sixteen adult younger volunteers (age <30 years) and 16 older volunteers (age >45 years) underwent 3T MRI examination to assess aortic and carotid flow volumes and PWV using the transit time method.

Results: Aortic versus carotid PWV-ratio was 1.

No effect of isolated long-term supine immobilization or profound prolonged hypoxia on blood coagulation.

Background: Long-distance air travel is associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. The most obvious factor that can explain air travel-related thrombosis is prolonged seated immobilization. In addition, hypobaric hypoxia has been shown to affect coagulation, and the lowered atmospheric pressures present in the cabin during the flight may therefore play an etiologic role.

A randomized comparison of 1-h sodium bicarbonate hydration versus standard peri-procedural saline hydration in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing intravenous contrast-enhanced computerized tomography.

Background: Guidelines recommend saline hydration for prophylaxis of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing intravenous contrast media-enhanced CT (CE-CT). The safety and efficacy of a brief hydration protocol using sodium bicarbonate in this population is unknown. We analysed whether 1-h sodium bicarbonate hydration prior to CE-CT is non-inferior to saline hydration prior to and after CE-CT in CKD patients.

Impact of incident venous thromboembolism on risk of arterial thrombotic diseases.

Background: Growing evidence supports an association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thrombotic diseases (ie, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke). We aimed to study the association between VTE and future arterial events and to determine the population attributable risk of arterial events by VTE in a large prospective cohort recruited from the general population.

Methods And Results: In 1994 to 1995 and 1993 to 1997, 81 687 subjects were included in the Tromsø Study and in the Diet, Cancer and Health Study and followed up to the date of incident venous and arterial events (myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke), death or migration, or to the end of the study period (2010 and 2008, respectively).

Role of hemostatic factors on the risk of venous thrombosis in people with impaired kidney function.

Background: Factors explaining the association between impaired kidney function and venous thrombosis have not been identified so far. The aim of our study was to determine whether the association between impaired kidney function and venous thrombosis can be explained by the concurrent presence of genetic or acquired venous thrombosis risk factors.

Methods And Results: The glomerular filtration rate was estimated (eGFR) in 2473 venous thrombosis patients and 2936 controls from a population-based case-control study.

The risk of venous thrombosis in individuals with a history of superficial vein thrombosis and acquired venous thrombotic risk factors.

Superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) increases the risk of venous thrombosis fourfold to sixfold. As most individuals with SVT do not develop venous thrombosis, additional risk factors may explain the risk of developing a venous thrombosis. In the Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment of risk factors for venous thrombosis study, we assessed the risk of venous thrombosis in individuals with previous SVT and a mild thrombotic risk factor (smoking or overweight/obesity), a strong risk factor (surgery, hospitalization, plaster cast immobilization, or malignancy), or a reproductive factor in women (oral contraception, postmenopausal hormone therapy, or pregnancy/puerperium).

Sex difference in risk of second but not of first venous thrombosis: paradox explained.

Background: The risk of recurrent venous thrombosis is 2-fold higher in men than in women. In contrast, no such sex difference in the risk of first venous thrombosis has been reported. We hypothesized that, for a first event, a risk difference between the sexes is masked by female exposure to reproductive factors (oral contraception, pregnancy/puerperium, and postmenopausal hormone therapy).

Impact of chronic kidney disease on the risk of clinical outcomes in patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolism during anticoagulant treatment.

Background: Information on recurrent venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) and major bleeding risks during anticoagulant treatment in patients with cancer-associated VTEs and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is scarce, although it is of relevance in establishing better tailored management strategies in these patients.

Objectives: We compared risks of recurrent VTEs and major bleeds in cancer-associated VTE patients with and without CKD.

Methods: A total of 1684 patients diagnosed with a cancer-associated VTE between 2001 and 2011 were followed for 180 days after VTE diagnosis.

Outcome after ST elevation myocardial infarction in patients with cancer treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The simultaneous occurrence of cancer and coronary heart disease is increasing in the Western world. Nevertheless, the influence of cancer on ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been investigated extensively. This multicenter registry included patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI from 2006 to 2009.

Intramyocardial injection of autologous bone marrow-derived ex vivo expanded mesenchymal stem cells in acute myocardial infarction patients is feasible and safe up to 5 years of follow-up.

In experimental studies, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) models has been associated with enhanced neovascularization and myogenesis. Clinical data however, are scarce. Therefore, the present study evaluates the safety and feasibility of intramyocardial MSC injection in nine patients, shortly after AMI during short-term and 5-year follow-up.

Suspected survivor bias in case-control studies: stratify on survival time and use a negative control.

Objectives: Selection bias in case-control studies occurs when control selection is inappropriate. However, selection bias due to improper case sampling is less well recognized. We describe how to recognize survivor bias (i.

In-hospital major bleeding and its clinical relevance in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Advances in antithrombotic therapy for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) enhance the risk of bleeding. Therefore, the incidence, determinants, and prognostic implications of in-hospital major bleeding after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI were investigated. In 963 consecutive patients, the incidence of bleeding was evaluated according to commonly used classifications including Can Rapid risk stratification of Unstable angina patients Suppress Adverse outcomes with Early implementation of the ACC/AHA guidelines, Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction, Global Use of Strategies To Open coronary arteries, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium.

Epidemiology of cancer-associated venous thrombosis.

Cancer-associated venous thrombosis is a common condition, although the reported incidence varies widely between studies depending on patient population, start and duration of follow-up, and the method of detecting and reporting thrombotic events. Furthermore, as cancer is a heterogeneous disease, the risk of venous thrombosis depends on cancer types and stages, treatment measures, and patient-related factors. In general, cancer patients with venous thrombosis do not fare well and have an increased mortality compared with cancer patients without.

Surveillance of second-degree relatives from melanoma families with a CDKN2A germline mutation.

Background: Lifetime melanoma risk of mutation carriers from families with a germline mutation in the CDKN2A gene is estimated to be 67%. The necessity to include family members in a melanoma surveillance program is widely endorsed, but there is no consensus on which family members should be invited.

Methods: In a retrospective follow-up study, we investigated the yield of surveillance of first- and second-degree relatives of melanoma and pancreatic cancer patients from 21 families with the "p16-Leiden" CDKN2A mutation.

Hematologic variables and venous thrombosis: red cell distribution width and blood monocyte count are associated with an increased risk.

Recent studies suggest that leukocytes and erythrocytes play a role in coagulation. However, whether leukocytes, erythrocytes and other hematologic variables are associated with risk of venous thrombosis is not well known. To study this, we used data from 2473 patients with venous thrombosis and 2935 controls.

Risk of a recurrent cardiovascular event in individuals with type 2 diabetes or intermediate hyperglycemia: the Hoorn Study.

Objective: To investigate risk of a recurrent cardiovascular event and its predictors in a population-based cohort.

Research Design And Methods: Participants of the Hoorn Study who had experienced a first cardiovascular event after baseline (n = 336) were followed with respect to a recurrent event. Absolute risk of a recurrent event was calculated for individuals with normal glucose metabolism, intermediate hyperglycemia, and type 2 diabetes.

Venous thrombosis: understanding the paradoxes of recurrence.

The decision to continue anticoagulant treatment in patients with a first venous thrombosis after the initial treatment period has strong, life-long implications. Both the risk of recurrence when treatment is stopped and the risk of bleeding when it is continued are high and will persist over a patient's lifetime. For clinicians, rational strategies to stratify their patients into levels of risk of recurrence are limited.

Patients with early arthritis consume less alcohol than controls, regardless of the type of arthritis.

Objectives: There are conflicting reports concerning the association between alcohol consumption and RA. We performed a case-control study to investigate the association of alcohol consumption with RA as well as with other forms of arthritis. To assess whether alcohol consumption affects long-term disease outcome, we also investigated its association with radiographic progression and sustained drug-free remission in RA.

Prehospital use in emergency patients of a laryngeal mask airway by ambulance paramedics is a safe and effective alternative for endotracheal intubation.

Background: In Dutch ambulance practice, failure or inability to intubate patients with altered oxygenation and/or ventilation leaves bag-valve mask ventilation as the only alternative, which is undesirable for patient outcome. A novel Laryngeal Mask Airway Supreme (LMA-S) device may be a suitable alternative.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of the LMA-S for emergency medical services in daily out-of-hospital emergency practice.