High D-dimer levels after stopping anticoagulants in pulmonary embolism with sleep apnoea.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a risk factor for pulmonary embolism. Elevated D-dimer levels and other biomarkers are associated with recurrent pulmonary embolism. The objectives were to compare the frequency of elevated D-dimer levels (>500 ng·mL(-1)) and further coagulation biomarkers after oral anticoagulation withdrawal in pulmonary embolism patients, with and without obstructive sleep apnoea, including two control groups without pulmonary embolism.We performed home respiratory polygraphy. We also measured basic biochemical profile and haemogram, and coagulation biomarkers (D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1+2, thrombin-antithrombin complex, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and soluble P-selectin).64 (74.4%) of the pulmonary embolism cases and 41 (46.11%) of the controls without pulmonary embolism had obstructive sleep apnoea. Plasmatic D-dimer was higher in PE patients with OSA than in those without obstructive sleep apnoea. D-dimer levels were significantly correlated with apnoea-hypopnoea index, and nocturnal hypoxia. There were more patients with high D-dimer after stopping anticoagulants in those with pulmonary embolism and obstructive sleep apnoea compared with PE without obstructive sleep apnoea (35.4% versus 19.0%, p=0.003). Apnoea-hypopnoea index was independently associated with high D-dimer.Pulmonary embolism patients with obstructive sleep apnoea had higher rates of elevated D-dimer levels after anticoagulation discontinuation for pulmonary embolism than in patients without obstructive sleep apnoea and, therefore, higher procoagulant state that might increase the risk of pulmonary embolism recurrence.

Green urine: A bezoar effect.

The green color in urine may suggest the presence of a severe pathology needing treatment. Many different potential causes of green urine have previously been reported. In our case, after ruling out other potential causes of green urine, it was suggested that the surgical manipulation of the paralytic ileum might have induced the reabsorption of the methylene blue which had been retained in the bowel (bezoar effect), even 96 hours after the nasogastric administration. CONCLUSIONS: The staff should keep in mind this possible effect due to methylene blue to recognize early and avoid unnecessary laboratory tests. AUTHORS SUMMARY: This case report illustrates the significance of urine discoloration, sometimes indicate the presence of a systemic disorder and some rare cases, this phenomenon has no pathologic effects. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a green urine by drug bezoar due methylene blue in children.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) with a sex-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched, population-based control group and to assess the association between OSA and PE. METHODS: We performed a case-control study from October 1, 2006, through November 30, 2009. We included 107 patients with PE and a control group (n=102) without PE in University Hospitals Son Espases and La Paz in Spain. Variables included in the analysis were medical history, anthropometric variables (weight, height, BMI, and neck circumference), Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, home respiratory polygraphy, basic biochemical profile and hemogram, spirometry, and physical activity. RESULTS: The mean ± SD apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly higher in patients with PE than population controls (21.2±20.6 vs 11.5±15.9 h(-1); P<.001). The presence of an AHI greater than 5 h(-1) and hypersomnolence (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥11) was more frequent in PE patients than in controls (14.0% vs 4.9%; P=.0002). A crude model analysis by several cutoffs revealed that the AHI was significantly associated with PE. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, BMI, lung function, and all known PE risk factors, the odds ratio for PE was 3.7 (95% CI, 1.3-10.5; P=.01). CONCLUSION: A higher prevalence of OSA was detected in patients diagnosed as having acute PE than controls. This study identified a significant and independent association between OSA and PE.