Clinically relevant increases in the international normalized ratio and model of end-stage liver disease score by therapeutic doses of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Patients with cirrhosis are increasingly using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in therapeutic doses for the treatment of portal vein thrombosis or for concomitant atrial fibrillation. DOACs may affect routine diagnostic tests of coagulation including the international normalized ratio (INR). The INR is a part of the model of end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, a validated score that predicts the mortality risk in patients with cirrhosis and is used to prioritize patients for liver transplantation.

Growth differentiation factor-15 for prediction of bleeding in cancer patients.

Background: Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a strong predictor for bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation, but there are no data on cardiovascular outcomes for this biomarker in cancer patients. Bleeding risk assessment is important in cancer patients when considering primary thromboprophylaxis because it is associated with an increased bleeding risk.

Objectives: To evaluate GDF-15 as predictor for bleeding events in cancer patients previously enrolled in the AVERT trial.

Risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with gastrointestinal cancer using edoxaban.

Background: In the Hokusai VTE Cancer study, the risk of major bleeding was 2.9% higher in the edoxaban group compared with the dalteparin group, mainly due to more gastrointestinal bleedings in patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The identification of risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding may help to guide the use of DOACs in these patients.

Primary thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory cancer patients with a high Khorana score: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Guidelines suggest thromboprophylaxis for ambulatory cancer patients starting chemotherapy with an intermediate to high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) according to Khorana score. Data on thromboprophylaxis efficacy in different Khorana score risk groups remain ambiguous. We sought to evaluate thromboprophylaxis in patients with an intermediate- to high-risk (≥2 points) Khorana score and an intermediate-risk score (2 points) or high-risk score (≥3 points) separately.

Direct oral anticoagulants for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are an emerging treatment option for patients with cancer and acute venous thromboembolism (VTE), but studies have reported inconsistent results. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the efficacy and safety of DOACs and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) in these patients. MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and conference proceedings were searched to identify relevant randomized controlled trials.

Antithrombotic therapy for prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer: review of the literature on current practice and emerging options.

The treatment of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) is difficult because cancer patients with VTE on anticoagulation are at an increased risk of bleeding compared with patients without VTE. This review summarises the evidence supporting the current standard of care and emerging treatment options. In difficult-to-treat subpopulations, where clinical data are often lacking, this review also provides the best clinical practice strategies based on the available data.

Hypercoagulability causes atrial fibrosis and promotes atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) produces a hypercoagulable state. Stimulation of protease-activated receptors by coagulation factors provokes pro-fibrotic, pro-hypertrophic, and pro-inflammatory responses in a variety of tissues. We studied the effects of thrombin on atrial fibroblasts and tested the hypothesis that hypercoagulability contributes to the development of a substrate for AF.

[Diagnostics and treatment of calf vein thrombosis].

Calf vein thrombosis is a much-debated entity. The literature shows that progression to deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism occurs infrequently and is usually detected using serial two-point ultrasonography. Additionally, undetected and untreated calf vein thrombosis is not associated with serious adverse events in large management trials studying diagnostic strategies for suspected deep venous thrombosis.

The Effect of Age and Sex on Clinical Outcome after Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Background: There are conflicting results regarding the effect of intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) stroke treatment between men and women. Studies evaluating the impact of sex differences on functional outcome in relation to different age groups are nonexistent.

Aim: The objective of the study is to examine the influence of sex differences in relation to age on the prognosis after IV rtPA treatment in acute stroke patients.

Safety of anticoagulant treatment in cancer patients.

Introduction: Patients with cancer are at increased risk of (recurrent) venous thromboembolism. They are also at increased risk of bleeding. This makes treatment of venous thromboembolisms (VTE) in cancer patients challenging.

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.

Evaluation of coagulation activation after rhinovirus infection in patients with asthma and healthy control subjects: an observational study.

Background: Asthma exacerbations are frequently triggered by rhinovirus infections. Both asthma and respiratory tract infection can activate haemostasis. Therefore we hypothesized that experimental rhinovirus-16 infection and asthmatic airway inflammation act in synergy on the haemostatic balance.

Factor VIII gene (F8) mutation and risk of inhibitor development in nonsevere hemophilia A.

Neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) toward factor VIII form a severe complication in nonsevere hemophilia A, profoundly aggravating the bleeding pattern. Identification of high-risk patients is hampered by lack of data that take exposure days to therapeutic factor VIII concentrates into account. In the INSIGHT study, we analyzed the association between F8 mutation and inhibitor development in patients with nonsevere hemophilia A (factor VIII 2-40 IU/dL).

Risk profile and clinical outcome of symptomatic subsegmental acute pulmonary embolism.

The clinical significance of subsegmental pulmonary embolism (SSPE) remains to be determined. This study aimed to investigate whether SSPE forms a distinct subset of thromboembolic disease compared with more proximally located pulmonary embolism (PE). We analyzed 3728 consecutive patients with clinically suspected PE.

Stress-induced hyperglycaemia and venous thromboembolism following total hip or total knee arthroplasty: analysis from the RECORD trials.

Stress-induced hyperglycaemia is common during orthopaedic surgery. In addition, hyperglycaemia activates coagulation. The aim of the study was to assess whether stress-induced hyperglycaemia is associated with symptomatic or asymptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) following orthopaedic surgery.

Evaluation and management of acute menorrhagia in women with and without underlying bleeding disorders: consensus from an international expert panel.

Acute menorrhagia is a common gynecological disorder. Prevalence is high among women with inherited bleeding disorders and recent guidance for optimal management is lacking. Following a comprehensive review of the literature, an international expert panel in obstetrics, gynecology and hematology reached consensus on recommendations regarding the management of acute menorrhagia in women without a diagnosed bleeding disorder, as well as in patients with von Willebrand disease, platelet function disorders and other rare hemostatic disorders.

[Perioperative suspension of anticoagulants: practical recommendations].

If patients being treated with anticoagulants need to undergo an operation then physicians need to consider whether to suspend the use of this medication or to allow its use to be continued. Suspending the use of anticoagulants increases the risk of thrombosis, whereas continued use may cause bleeding complications. No evidence-based scientific research has been carried out regarding best practice for the perioperative use of anticoagulants.

Challenges in managing anticoagulant therapy in patients with heart valve prostheses.

There is a wide array of recommendations for the management of anticoagulant therapy in patients with mechanical heart valves. The optimal intensity of vitamin K antagonists, management of patients during noncardiac surgery and use of anticoagulants during pregnancy are all ongoing matters of debate. In this review, we discuss the various studies on these topics and the different guidelines.