Long-term outcomes and predictors of mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism undergoing catheter-directed thrombolysis: a 10-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding long-term outcomes of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) post intermediate risk pulmonary embolism (PE), the choice of anticoagulation, and factors affecting mortality are not well studied. METHODS: We conducted a ten-year retrospective observational chart review of patients undergoing CDT for intermediate-risk PE. Patients were followed for a period of 1 to a maximum of 5 years from the PE event. Multivariate regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of mortality post-CDT. RESULTS: We had a total of 373 patients in our study. Significant 5-year mortality was observed (18.7 %) in our patient population, with a 9.2 % cardiopulmonary cause of death. Rate was highest in patients without anticoagulation (78.5 %) and least in patients on apixaban [10.9 %, absolute risk reduction - 63.8 % (40.91 % - 86.60 %)]. Age, female sex and no anticoagulation were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: CDT for intermediate-risk PE has a high 5-year mortality with no anticoagulation as the only modifiable risk factor.

Novel Targeted Therapies for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Elderly Patients: A Systematic Review.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) typically affects older patients; administration of traditional cytotoxic therapies in old patients has very modest benefit with no survival improvement. With better understanding of CLL biology, trends are shifting towards the use of targeted therapies. The objective of this article is to review the safety and efficacy of various novel agents that specifically target the dysregulated pathways, with particular attention to elderly patients. Agents like B-cell receptor (BCR) inhibitors (Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors [ibrutinib]), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors (idelalisib), spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors (entospletinib), Bcl-2 inhibitors (venetoclax), immunomodulators (lenalidomide), and monoclonal antibodies (obinutuzumab, ofatumumab) have shown activity in CLL with a very favorable toxicity profile. Newer agents have improved clinical outcomes, and have tolerable toxicity profiles in elderly patients, resulting in the treatment with individualized therapy approach for CLL.