Publications by authors named "Karlyn Martin"

Background: While national guidelines recommend Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment in cancer outpatients and consideration of pharmacologic prophylaxis in high-risk patients, prophylaxis rates are low in community oncology practices. A successful model for guideline implementation (the Vermont Model, VM) is validated in an academic tertiary oncology setting. We undertook an implementation study to determine the success of this model in a multi-site community oncology practice.

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Background: For ambulatory cancer patients receiving systemic chemotherapy, adherence is low to recommended venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention interventions. Previously, we identified implementation strategies to address barriers to adherence, including (1) conducting clinician education and training; (2) developing and distributing educational materials for clinicians; (3) adapting electronic health records to provide interactive assistance; and (4) developing and distributing educational materials for patients. The objective of this study was to develop these implementation strategies' form (i.

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For most patients, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are preferred over vitamin K antagonists for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and for venous thromboembolism treatment. However, randomized controlled trials suggest that DOACs may not be as efficacious or as safe as the current standard of care in conditions such as mechanical heart valves, thrombotic antiphospholipid syndrome, and atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic heart disease. DOACs do not provide a net benefit in conditions such as embolic stroke of undetermined source.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on understanding how primary care clinicians prescribe direct anticoagulants (DOACs) like apixaban and rivaroxaban for the extended treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and their dose reduction practices.
  • A survey was conducted with 227 clinicians to analyze their prescribing patterns, revealing that most (59%) used dose reduction, with hospitalists and early-career clinicians being the least likely to do so.
  • The research identified five distinct prescribing behavior clusters based on dose reduction frequency and clinician characteristics, suggesting areas for targeted interventions to improve anticoagulant management.
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Introduction: Racial and ethnic differences in pulmonary embolism (PE) mortality within rural and urban regions in the U.S. have not previously been described.

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Background: Evidenced-based interventions have been developed to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in ambulatory patients with cancer, including VTE-risk assessment for all patients and targeted primary thromboprophylaxis for high-risk patients. Despite supportive evidence and recommendations, oncologists rarely assess VTE risk or provide primary prophylaxis. Our previous work identified barriers and facilitators to using VTE prevention interventions in oncology practice.

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Background: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immune-mediated drug reaction that can cause thromboembolism in the setting of thrombocytopenia. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based assay to screen for HIT antibodies (HAb) is available but has relatively low specificity and a correspondingly high false positive rate. The 4Ts score has been validated to determine the pretest probability of HIT.

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Article Synopsis
  • Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) can occur during pregnancy, either as a first episode or an exacerbation of existing conditions, complicating treatment options.
  • Use of caplacizumab, a medication approved for TTP treatment, is limited due to scarce data on its safety and effectiveness in pregnant patients, raising concerns about potential hemorrhage.
  • Despite these concerns, a case study showed successful off-label use of caplacizumab in a pregnant patient with refractory TTP, leading to hematologic recovery and the delivery of a healthy baby, contributing valuable information to the limited literature on this treatment in pregnancy.
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Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a treatable complication of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Identification of factors that impact referral to a comprehensive CTEPH center may improve disease awareness and patient outcomes. We conducted a study of patients with acute PE.

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The effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) compared with warfarin remains uncertain in obese patients. We assessed the comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs with warfarin for the treatment of VTE among obese patients. This multi-center retrospective cohort study included adults with a BMI ≥ 35 kg/m or weight ≥ 120 kg prescribed either DOAC (apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban) or warfarin for a VTE diagnosis.

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Article Synopsis
  • A 62-year-old liver transplant patient developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) three weeks post-surgery due to low ADAMTS13 activity.
  • Retrospective donor records indicated a hereditary form of TTP, as there was no ADAMTS13 inhibitor detected, meaning the recipient now requires ongoing plasma transfusions.
  • It highlights the importance of thorough medical history evaluations for potential liver donors, as hereditary TTP, though rare, should discourage donation unless under exceptional conditions.
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Background: The direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), apixaban and rivaroxaban, have been studied for extended-phase treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Yet, scant evidence exists surrounding clinician practice and decision-making regarding dose reduction.

Aims: Report clinician practice and characteristics surrounding dose reduction of DOACs for extended-phase VTE treatment.

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Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare complication in pulmonary embolism (PE) survivors, characterized by chronic vascular occlusion and pulmonary hypertension. The identification and diagnosis of CTEPH requires a stepwise approach, starting with symptom evaluation, functional evaluation, screening imaging, and progressing to interventional hemodynamic assessment. On the backbone of anticoagulation, CTEPH management necessitates a multidisciplinary approach.

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NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolic Disease focus on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with cancer who have developed or who are at risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE is a significant concern among cancer patients, who are at heightened risks for developing as well as dying from the disease. The management of patients with cancer with VTE often requires multidisciplinary efforts at treating institutions.

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Although direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have widespread first-line use for treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE), uncertainty remains regarding their efficacy and safety in patients with obesity. We reviewed available data for use of DOACs for VTE treatment and prevention in patients with obesity, including phase 3, phase 4, meta-analyses, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies. In addition, we reviewed available data regarding DOACs in bariatric surgery.

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