Background And Objectives: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke. While the standard treatment is anticoagulation, the type and duration of anticoagulation depends on the underlying etiology. This study aims to identify prevalence, risk factors, and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates among patients with idiopathic (cryptogenic) CVT and CVT provoked by transient (peripartum, hormonal treatment, infection, trauma) and persistent (cancer, thrombophilia) factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is still uncertain whether direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) perform better than vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in subjects with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of the study was to compare safety and effectiveness of DOACs and VKAs in patients with NVAF and stage 4 CKD (creatinine clearance 15-29 mL/min). We searched the hospital databases of two academic centers to retrospectively identify patients with stage 4 CKD who were on treatment with DOACs or VKAs for NVAF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResearch on cerebrovascular events in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients taking non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is limited, highlighting a significant gap in literature. We assessed thrombotic and hemorrhagic risks in patients on NOACs and ASMs versus those on NOACs or ASMs alone. We analyzed a retrospective cohort from five centers, including AF and epilepsy patients on both medications (n = 188), AF patients on NOACs (n = 298), and epilepsy patients on ASMs (n = 50), with a 3-year follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNearly one fifth of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) have cancer. When both of these conditions occur, especially in cases of cerebral vein thrombosis (CVT), patient management is often challenging. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics and event courses in patients affected by CVT with and without cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common complication of diseases affecting the left heart, mostly found in patients suffering from heart failure. Left atrial hypertension is the initial driver of post-capillary PH. However, several mechanisms may lead in a subset of patients to structural changes in the pulmonary vessels with development of a pre-capillary component.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are currently the first-choice therapy for the prevention of cardioembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to their more favorable efficacy to safety profile in comparison to vitamin K antagonists (VKA). DOACs did not show a clinical benefit when used for in stroke prevention in patients with mechanic or rheumatic valves or in those who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), in the treatment of VTE in patients with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and in prevention of VTE in medically ill patients. There are some concerns for bleeding excess at the gastrointestinal site for some, but not all, DOACs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Purpose: Vessel recanalization after cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is associated with favorable outcomes and lower mortality. Several studies examined the timing and predictors of recanalization after CVT with mixed results. We aimed to investigate predictors and timing of recanalization after CVT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the last 10 years the introduction of the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has revolutionized the anticoagulant treatment, one of the cornerstones of the therapy for cardiovascular diseases. Thanks to their efficacy at least not inferior compared to vitamin K antagonists and their better safety profile, particularly with regard to intracranial bleeding, DOACs are now the first choice for the prevention of cardioembolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Other areas of clinical use for DOACs include the prevention of VTE in orthopedic and oncology surgery and in outpatient cancer patients treated with anticancer therapy, or the use of low-dose in association with aspirin in patients with coronary or peripheral artery disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with pulmonary embolism are a heterogeneous population and, after the acute phase and the first 3-6 months, the main issue is whether to continue, and hence how long and at what dose, or to stop anticoagulation therapy. In patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are the recommended treatment (class I, level of evidence B in the latest European guidelines), and in most cases, an "extended" or "long-term" low-dose therapy is warranted. This paper aims to provide a practical management tool to the clinician dealing with pulmonary embolism follow-up: from the evidence behind the most used exams (D-dimer, ultrasound Doppler of the lower limbs, imaging tests, recurrence and bleeding risk scores), and the use of DOACs in the extended phase, to six real clinical scenarios with the relative management in the acute phase and at follow-up.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We identified risk factors, derived and validated a prognostic score for poor neurological outcome and death for use in cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT).
Methods: We performed an international multicenter retrospective study including consecutive patients with CVT from January 2015 to December 2020. Demographic, clinical, and radiographic characteristics were collected.
Background And Objective: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke carrying a nearly 4% risk of recurrence after 1 year. There are limited data on predictors of recurrent venous thrombosis in patients with CVT. In this study, we aim to identify those predictors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The efficacy and safety profiles of nonrecommended direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) doses in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are still undefined.
Summary: We searched for randomized controlled trials and observational studies that compared nonrecommended versus recommended doses of DOACs, published up to December 2021. Primary study outcomes were ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism (IS/TIA/SE) and major bleeding (MB).
Background: Clinical spectrum of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory failure that may result in death. We aimed at validating and potentially improve existing clinical models to predict prognosis in hospitalized patients with acute COVID-19.
Methods: Consecutive patients with acute confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized at 5 Italian non-intensive care unit centers during the 2020 outbreak were included in the study.
Despite the recent advancements, oral anticoagulation is still challenging in some patients and this is the case for old and frail patients. The large majority of frail patients with atrial fibrillation should receive anticoagulation since the associated benefits outweigh the risk of bleeding. A multidisciplinary consensus document on the use and prescription of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in older and frail patients with atrial fibrillation has been recently published.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe clinical benefit of extended prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after laparoscopic surgery for cancer is unclear. The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants for this indication are unexplored. PROphylaxis of venous thromboembolism after LAParoscopic Surgery for colorectal cancer Study II (PROLAPS II) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, investigator-initiated, superiority study aimed at assessing the efficacy and safety of extended prophylaxis with rivaroxaban after laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: A small randomized controlled trial suggested that dabigatran may be as effective as warfarin in the treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). We aimed to compare direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) to warfarin in a real-world CVT cohort.
Methods: This multicenter international retrospective study (United States, Europe, New Zealand) included consecutive patients with CVT treated with oral anticoagulation from January 2015 to December 2020.
Background And Aim: Risk factors and mortality in patients with DOACs-associated gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) are not completely defined. Aims of this study were to identify risk factors for bleeding and evaluate one-year mortality in patients with DOACs-associated GIB.
Methods: We conducted a case-control study.
Background: The long-term risk for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) during extended anticoagulation for a first unprovoked VTE is uncertain.
Objectives: To determine the incidence of recurrent VTE during extended anticoagulation of up to 5 years in patients with a first unprovoked VTE.
Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL were searched to identify randomized trials and prospective cohort studies reporting recurrent VTE among patients with a first unprovoked VTE who were to receive anticoagulation for a minimum of six additional months after completing ≥3 months of initial treatment.
Background: Limited data are available on the role of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment of upper extremities deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT).
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of DOACs in the treatment of UEDVT.
Methods: Patients with an objectively confirmed acute UEDVT treated with DOACs were merged from prospective cohorts to a collaborative database.