Anticoagulation in the Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism-A Review.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a very frequent cardiovascular entity that encompasses deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE). This last entity represents a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The incidence of PE and the rate of PE-related morbidity significantly increase with age, race, and underlying medical conditions, such as malignancy. Given the recent advances in diagnostic strategies and algorithms, patients can be risk assessed and treated promptly to avoid disease progression. Anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment for acute PE that is not hemodynamically unstable. Direct oral anticoagulants, such as apixaban, rivaroxaban, or edoxaban, are currently the preferred agents for the treatment of patients who present with acute PE or for long-term treatment. Treatment duration should be continued for at least 3 months, and all patients should be assessed for extended duration of therapy based on the precipitating factors that led to the development of the VTE. Novel anticoagulant agents targeting factor XI/XIa are currently being investigated in phases 2 and 3 clinical trials, representing an attractive option in anticoagulation therapies in patients with VTE. For hemodynamically unstable patients, systemic thrombolysis is the treatment of choice, and it may also be of benefit-in reduced dose-for patients with intermediate to high risk who are at risk of hemodynamic collapse.

Complications of Right Heart Catheterization in Patients ≥70 Years of Age With Suspected Pulmonary Hypertension: Experience From a Tertiary Care Center.

Right heart catheterization (RHC) represents the gold standard diagnostic approach for pulmonary hypertension (PH). Historically, the complication rates of RHC are known to be low. The study aimed to evaluate the indications for performing RHC and the occurrence of adverse events related to the procedure in patients > over 70 years of age in a Mexican Tertiary Care Center. We conducted a retrospective single-center registry from July 2017 to July 2022. A total of 517 patients with suspected PH underwent RHC. The cohort included patients <70 (n = 427) and ≥70 years of age (n = 90). Adverse events were classified as major (eg, death, pneumothorax, and carotid artery puncture) and minor (eg, atrial arrhythmia, superior vena cava dissection, incidental arterial puncture, and local hematoma). Appropriate hemodynamic parameters were recorded. No report of major adverse events in the entire cohort. In the <70 years age group, 9 minor events, and 3 minor events were in the ≥70-year-old patients (P < 0.0001). There was a significant difference in the measurement of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) between the <70 years old vs ≥70 years old (P < 0.001); there was a significant difference in right atrial pressures: 4.71 ± 3.14 mmHg in the <70-year-old vs 4.07 ± 1.94 mmHg for the ≥ 70-year-old group (P = 0.014). Our findings suggest that RHC can be safely performed in patients aged ≥70 years using different vascular access routes without significant major complications.

Factor XI/XIa inhibitors for the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolism: A narrative review.

During the past decade, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have advanced and simplified the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, there remains a high incidence of bleeds, which calls for agents that have a reduced risk of bleeding. Factor XI (FXI) deficiency is associated with lower rates of venous thrombosis and stroke compared to the general population with a lower risk of bleeding. In conjunction with this, phase 2 studies have demonstrated safety and the potential for reduced thrombotic events with FXI inhibitors as compared to currently available medications. The aim of this review is to summarize key data on the clinical pharmacology of FXI, the latest developments in clinical trials of FXI inhibitors, and to describe the efficacy and safety profiles of FXI inhibitors for the prevention of venous and arterial thromboembolism.

Prevalence and Prognosis of Hypothyroidism in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: An Updated Review With Description of Case Series.

Hypothyroidism has been shown to have several effects on organs, including derangements in the coagulation system, impairing endothelial function, but data on the importance of hypothyroidism in the pathogenesis and development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are limited. This report presents an updated review of the prevalence and prognosis of hypothyroidism in patients diagnosed with CTEPH, including a detailed retrospective description of the series. The descriptive case series included 34 adult patients diagnosed with CTEPH, of whom 11 patients were diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The prevalence of hypothyroidism in CTEPH was found to be 32.35%. All patients with hypothyroidism had NYHA functional Class II-III. Hemodynamic values obtained through right heart catheterization (RHC) showed that patients with hypothyroidism had significantly higher mean pulmonary arterial pressures (mPAP), with a mean of 56.91 mm Hg vs 43.93 mm Hg (p = 0.026), and the PVR in dynes/sec/cm5 was 932 vs 541 (p = 0.027). Significant differences in PVR were found in wood units (WU) 11.91 vs 7.11 (p = 0.042). The mean level of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) between both groups was 797.3 pg/mL for patients with hypothyroidism vs 262.02 pg/mL in patients with euthyroidism (p = .032). Hypothyroidism may significantly affect patients' clinical and hemodynamic outcomes in patients with CTEPH. Hypothyroidism as a risk factor in the evaluation and treatment of these patients is vital to optimize outcomes in CTEPH; further research is warranted whether hypothyroidism therapies could alter such outcomes.

Successful Treatment With the Oral Factor Xa Inhibitor Edoxaban in Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia With Thrombosis.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with thrombosis (HITT) is a rare immune reaction to the drug heparin that causes increased blood clotting, putting patients at risk for arterial and venous thromboembolism which can have severe consequences. We present a case of HITT successfully treated with the direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), edoxaban. A 56-year-old man had surgery to remove a colorectal mass. After discharge, he developed chest discomfort, shortness of breath, and low oxygen levels and was diagnosed with a right-sided lobar pulmonary embolism. His platelet count dropped, his tests confirmed a diagnosis of HITT, and he was initially treated with fondaparinux. After showing clinical and laboratory improvement, he was switched to edoxaban. Despite being diagnosed with colonic adenocarcinoma during follow-up, the patient's platelet count returned to normal, and he did not experience any more blood clots or serious bleeding events. The use of DOACs like edoxaban as potential therapies for HITT is promising; further research is being conducted to evaluate their effectiveness, safety, and potential benefits for treating this acquired high-risk thrombophilia.

Successful use of rivaroxaban achieving therapeutic anti-factor xa levels in a morbidly obese patient with acute intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have become the standard of care for acute and long-term therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to their efficacy and safety profiles. The 2021 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines recommend using standard DOAC dosages in patients with BMI >40 kg/m2 or weight >120 kg. Use of DOACs remains uncertain in morbidly obese patients with VTE, including acute PE. A morbidly obese woman in her 30s who presented with acute worsening of dyspnea was diagnosed with acute intermediate-high risk acute pulmonary embolism and concomitant proximal deep vein thrombosis, constituting a clinically challenging scenario for treating her with rivaroxaban. Standard doses of rivaroxaban for acute and extended phase treatment of venous thromboembolism in individuals with morbid obesity at BMI>70 kg/m2 may be effective, and safe.

Devido à sua eficácia e aos seus perfis de segurança, os anticoagulantes orais diretos (DOACs) tornaram-se o padrão de cuidado para a terapia aguda e de longo prazo de tromboembolismo venoso (TEV). As diretrizes da Sociedade Internacional de Trombose e Hemostasia de 2021 recomendam o uso de dosagens padrão de DOACs em pacientes com índice de massa corporal (IMC) > 40 kg/m2 ou peso > 120 kg. O uso de DOACs em pacientes com obesidade mórbida e TEV, incluindo embolia pulmonar aguda, ainda não foi esclarecido. Uma mulher com obesidade mórbida na faixa dos 30 anos que apresentou piora aguda da dispneia foi diagnosticada com embolia pulmonar aguda de risco intermediário-alto e trombose venosa profunda proximal concomitante, com o cenário clínico desafiador de tratá-la com rivaroxabana. Doses padrão de rivaroxabana para tratamento e recorrência de tromboembolismo venoso em indivíduos com obesidade mórbida e IMC > 70 kg/m2 podem ser eficazes e seguras.

A Rare Association Between Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 and Miller-Fisher Syndrome.

The etiopathogenesis for Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS), a variant of GBS, is well-documented in the literature. However, the association between MFS and an underlying herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is very limited. We present a unique case of a 48-year-old man who developed diplopia, bilateral ptosis, and gait instability following an acute diarrheal illness and recurring cold sores. The patient was diagnosed with MFS precipitated by recurrent HSV-1 infection following a Campylobacter jejuni acute infection. The diagnosis of MFS was supported by a positive anti-GQ1b ganglioside immunoglobulin (Ig)G and abnormal MRI-enhancing lesions of the bilateral cranial nerves III and VI. Intravenous immunoglobulin and acyclovir produced a significant clinical response in the patient within the first 72 hours. Our case highlights the rare association between two pathogens and MFS and the importance of recognizing risk factors, symptomatology, and appropriate workup accompanying an atypical MFS case.

Impact of Hospital-based Multidisciplinary Anticoagulation Stewardship Programs.

Antithrombotic therapies, especially anticoagulants, are high-risk medications with increased potential for adverse events. The development and implementation of a well-functioning, designated, multidisciplinary anticoagulation stewardship program (MASP), tailored to each hospital-center's needs, has the primary objectives of improving patient-centered outcomes, minimizing undesirable anticoagulation-related adverse events and minimizing hospital length of stay (LOS) and other patient-related costs. Such stewardship programs are pivotal in supporting busy clinicians with consultation on challenging clinical case scenarios, ensuring appropriate use of valuable healthcare resources, achieving compliance with anticoagulant-associated accreditation standards, and positively impacting patient-specific morbidity/mortality outcomes. Herein, we review and discuss the critical need for antithrombosis stewardship and the benefit of formalized MASP in optimizing use of antithrombotic therapies.

Successful use of rivaroxaban achieving therapeutic anti-factor xa levels in a morbidly obese patient with acute intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism / Uso bem-sucedido de rivaroxabana com níveis terapêuticos de antifator xa em paciente com obesidade mórbida e embolia pulmonar aguda de risco intermediário-alto

Abstract Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have become the standard of care for acute and long-term therapy for venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to their efficacy and safety profiles. The 2021 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis guidelines recommend using standard DOAC dosages in patients with BMI >40 kg/m2 or weight >120 kg. Use of DOACs remains uncertain in morbidly obese patients with VTE, including acute PE. A morbidly obese woman in her 30s who presented with acute worsening of dyspnea was diagnosed with acute intermediate-high risk acute pulmonary embolism and concomitant proximal deep vein thrombosis, constituting a clinically challenging scenario for treating her with rivaroxaban. Standard doses of rivaroxaban for acute and extended phase treatment of venous thromboembolism in individuals with morbid obesity at BMI>70 kg/m2 may be effective, and safe.

Resumo Devido à sua eficácia e aos seus perfis de segurança, os anticoagulantes orais diretos (DOACs) tornaram-se o padrão de cuidado para a terapia aguda e de longo prazo de tromboembolismo venoso (TEV). As diretrizes da Sociedade Internacional de Trombose e Hemostasia de 2021 recomendam o uso de dosagens padrão de DOACs em pacientes com índice de massa corporal (IMC) > 40 kg/m2 ou peso > 120 kg. O uso de DOACs em pacientes com obesidade mórbida e TEV, incluindo embolia pulmonar aguda, ainda não foi esclarecido. Uma mulher com obesidade mórbida na faixa dos 30 anos que apresentou piora aguda da dispneia foi diagnosticada com embolia pulmonar aguda de risco intermediário-alto e trombose venosa profunda proximal concomitante, com o cenário clínico desafiador de tratá-la com rivaroxabana. Doses padrão de rivaroxabana para tratamento e recorrência de tromboembolismo venoso em indivíduos com obesidade mórbida e IMC > 70 kg/m2 podem ser eficazes e seguras.