The effects of 6 months dietary counseling on diet quality and cardiovascular risk profile in patients with cardiovascular disease: A randomized controlled trial.

Background & Aims: A healthy diet improves cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. However, dietary counseling is not yet widely implemented in health care for patients with CVD. We assessed how dietary counseling by a dietitian, focused on improving diet quality, influenced the cardiovascular risk profile of patients with CVD.

Large variation in anti-factor Xa levels with nadroparin as thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 critically ill patients.

Purpose: Critically ill COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients receive thromboprophylaxis with the LMWH nadroparin. Whether a standard dosage is adequate in attaining the target anti-FXa levels (0.20-0.

Cost-Effectiveness of Performing Reference Ultrasonography in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Background:  The diagnosis of recurrent ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with compression ultrasonography (CUS) may be hindered by residual intravascular obstruction after previous DVT. A reference CUS, an additional ultrasound performed at anticoagulant discontinuation, may improve the diagnostic work-up of suspected recurrent ipsilateral DVT by providing baseline images for future comparison.

Objectives:  To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of routinely performing reference CUS in DVT patients.

Performance of the 4-Level Pulmonary Embolism Clinical Probability Score (4PEPS) in the diagnostic management of pulmonary embolism: An external validation study.

Background: The recently published 4-level Pulmonary Embolism Clinical Probability Score (4PEPS) integrates different aspects from currently available diagnostic strategies to further reduce imaging testing in patients with clinically suspected pulmonary embolism (PE).

Aim: To externally validate the performance of 4PEPS in an independent cohort.

Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of the prospective diagnostic management YEARS study, the primary outcome measures were discrimination, calibration, efficiency (proportion of imaging tests potentially avoided), and failure rate (venous thromboembolism (VTE) diagnosis at baseline or follow-up in patients with a negative 4PEPS algorithm).

Thromboembolic and bleeding complications during interruptions and after discontinuation of anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation and active cancer: A daily practice evaluation.

Background And Aims: Cancer provides challenges to the continuity of anticoagulant treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), e.g. through cancer-related surgery or complications.

Atrial fibrillation in cancer: thromboembolism and bleeding in daily practice.

Background: Cancer is suggested to confer thromboembolic and bleeding risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objectives: We aimed to describe current anticoagulant practice in patients with AF and active cancer, present incidences of thromboembolic and bleeding complications, and evaluate the association between cancer type or anticoagulant management strategy with AF-related complications.

Methods: This retrospective study identified patients with AF and active cancer in 2 hospitals between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017.

Effect of an interactive, educational app about venous thromboembolism and anticoagulation on patient satisfaction: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Adequate patient education is essential for patients to engage in shared decision-making when deciding to stop or continue anticoagulation after 3 months for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of an interactive, educational app on patients' level of satisfaction with information, perceived level of knowledge, decisional conflict and extent of shared decision-making when deciding on treatment duration of VTE.

Materials And Methods: This randomized controlled trial in 1 academic and 3 general Dutch hospitals included adult patients diagnosed with VTE without malignancy or prolonged anticoagulation for other indications.

Anti-Xa Levels in Morbidly Obese Patients Using Apixaban or Rivaroxaban, Before and After Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Despite limited evidence about the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation in patients post bariatric surgery, both vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly prescribed.

Aim: To evaluate plasma anti-Xa levels of DOACs in morbidly obese (MO) patients before and after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) procedure.

Patients And Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, and longitudinal study of anti-Xa activity of apixaban or rivaroxaban in MO patients (N = 41).

Prior use of therapeutic anticoagulation does not protect against COVID-19 related clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients: A propensity score-matched cohort study.

The hypercoagulable state observed in COVID-19 could be responsible for morbidity and mortality. In this retrospective study we investigated whether therapeutic anticoagulation prior to infection has a beneficial effect in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. This study included 1154 COVID-19 patients admitted to 6 hospitals in the Netherlands between March and May 2020.

Cost-effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing recurrent ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis.

The diagnostic workup of recurrent ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using compression ultrasonography (CUS) can be complicated by persistent intravascular abnormalities after a previous DVT. We showed that magnetic resonance direct thrombus imaging (MRDTI) can exclude recurrent ipsilateral DVT. However, it is unknown whether the application of MRDTI in daily clinical practice is cost effective.

Heavy menstrual bleeding on direct factor Xa inhibitors: Rationale and design of the MEDEA study.

Background: In premenopausal women, treatment with direct oral factor Xa inhibitors is associated with an increased risk of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Treatment with the direct oral thrombin inhibitor dabigatran appears to be associated with a reduced risk of HMB compared with VKA. These findings come from small observational studies or post hoc analyses of trials in which HMB was not a primary outcome.

Severe Acquired Coagulopathy During Fulminant Sepsis Most Likely Caused by Exotoxins (SSLs).

Unlabelled: Haemostatic abnormalities frequently occur during sepsis and are most often attributed to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). We report the case of a patient with severe coagulopathy acquired during fulminant sepsis. DIC was not present.

Elastic compression stockings one year after DVT diagnosis: Who might discontinue?

Background: Elastic compression stockings (ECS) are uncomfortable to wear but may prevent post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). The ability to predict PTS may help clinical decision making regarding the optimal duration of ECS after deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Aims: Predefined endpoint analysis of the Octavia study that randomized patients who compliantly used ECS up to one year after DVT to continue or discontinue ECS treatment.

3D modelling of radical prostatectomy specimens: Developing a method to quantify tumor morphometry for prostate cancer risk prediction.

Prostate cancer displays a wide spectrum of clinical behaviour from biological indolence to rapidly lethal disease, but we remain unable to accurately predict an individual tumor's future clinical course at an early curable stage. Beyond basic dimensions and volume calculations, tumor morphometry is an area that has received little attention, as it requires the analysis of the prostate gland and tumor foci in three-dimensions. Previous efforts to generate three-dimensional prostate models have required specialised graphics units and focused on the spatial distribution of tumors for optimisation of biopsy strategies rather than to generate novel morphometric variables such as tumor surface area.

No added value of the age-adjusted D-dimer cut-off to the YEARS algorithm in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.

Unlabelled: Essentials Imaging is warranted in the majority of patients to confirm or rule out pulmonary embolism (PE). The age-adjusted D-dimer (ADJUST) reduced the number of required imaging tests in patients ≥ 50 years. The YEARS algorithm was designed to improve the efficiency in patients with suspected PE.

Assessing clinical probability of pulmonary embolism: prospective validation of the simplified Geneva score.

Unlabelled: Essentials The simplified Geneva score allows easier pretest probability assessment of pulmonary embolism (PE). We prospectively validated this score in the ADJUST-PE management outcome study. The study shows that it is safe to manage patients with suspected PE according to this score.

Is a normal computed tomography pulmonary angiography safe to rule out acute pulmonary embolism in patients with a likely clinical probability? A patient-level meta-analysis.

A normal computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) remains a controversial criterion for ruling out acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with a likely clinical probability. We set out to determine the risk of VTE and fatal PE after a normal CTPA in this patient category and compare these risk to those after a normal pulmonary angiogram of 1.7 % (95 %CI 1.

Simplified diagnostic management of suspected pulmonary embolism (the YEARS study): a prospective, multicentre, cohort study.

Background: Validated diagnostic algorithms in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism are often not used correctly or only benefit subgroups of patients, leading to overuse of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA). The YEARS clinical decision rule that incorporates differential D-dimer cutoff values at presentation, has been developed to be fast, to be compatible with clinical practice, and to reduce the number of CTPA investigations in all age groups. We aimed to prospectively evaluate this novel and simplified diagnostic algorithm for suspected acute pulmonary embolism.

One versus two years of elastic compression stockings for prevention of post-thrombotic syndrome (OCTAVIA study): randomised controlled trial.

Objective:  To study whether stopping elastic compression stockings (ECS) after 12 months is non-inferior to continuing them for 24 months after proximal deep venous thrombosis.

Design:  Multicentre single blind non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

Setting:  Outpatient clinics in eight teaching hospitals in the Netherlands, including one university medical centre.

Efficacy and Safety of Outpatient Treatment Based on the Hestia Clinical Decision Rule with or without N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide Testing in Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism. A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Rationale: Outpatient treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) may lead to improved patient satisfaction and reduced healthcare costs. However, trials to assess its safety and the optimal method for patient selection are scarce.

Objectives: To validate the utility and safety of selecting patients with PE for outpatient treatment by the Hestia criteria and to compare the safety of the Hestia criteria alone with the Hestia criteria combined with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) testing.

Unexpected Complication of a Multinodular Goitre.

Unlabelled: Multinodular goitre is the most common thyroid gland disorder. It can cause hyperthyroidism and mechanical complaints such as tracheal compression or dysphagia. We report a unique case of a patient with a toxic multinodular goitre presenting with a deep venous thrombosis of the left arm due to direct local compression of blood flow.

Thromboembolic resolution assessed by CT pulmonary angiography after treatment for acute pulmonary embolism.

The systematic assessment of residual thromboembolic obstruction after treatment for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) has been understudied. This assessment is of potential clinical importance, should clinically suspected recurrent PE occur, or as tool for risk stratification of cardiopulmonary complications or recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study aimed to assess the rate of PE resolution and its implications for clinical outcome.