ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the treatment of left ventricular thrombus. Currently, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remain the preferred oral anticoagulant for left ventricular thrombus. In this retrospective study, we assessed the safety and efficacy of DOACs in comparison to VKAs in patients with a new diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients admitted to the 5 Catholic Health Initiative Omaha hospitals with a diagnosis of left ventricular thrombus between January 2012 and March 2019 and were discharged on oral anticoagulants. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: VKAs or DOACs and followed for up to 1 year. We compared the outcomes of ischemic stroke, bleeding, and echocardiographic resolution of left ventricular thrombus between the 2 groups. RESULTS: A total of 99 patients were included in this study (mean age: 61 years, 29% females). Of these, 80 (81%) were discharged on VKAs and 19 (19%) on DOACs. Stroke within 1 year of diagnosis occurred in 2 patients in the VKA group and none in the DOAC group (P = 0.49). Bleeding events were observed in 5 patients (4 in the VKA group and 1 in the DOAC group; P = 0.96). Ninety patients had follow-up echocardiogram; resolution of left ventricular thrombus was similar between the 2 groups (VKAs vs DOACs: 81% vs 80%; P = 0.9). CONCLUSION: In patients with left ventricular thrombus, DOACs and VKAs had similar rates of stroke and bleeding. These findings need confirmation in randomized clinical trials.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants/therapeutic use , Heart Ventricles/pathology , Thrombosis/drug therapy , Thrombosis/pathology , Administration, Oral , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bivalirudin has been shown to be associated with less major bleeding than heparin in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); but the confounding effect of concomitant glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) limits meaningful comparison. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare bivalirudin to heparin, with and without adjunctive GPI in PCI. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL and WOS from January 2000 to December 2017 for clinical trials comparing bivalirudin to heparin, with and without adjunctive GPI during PCI. Cochrane's Q statistics were used to determine heterogeneity. Random effects model was used. RESULTS: Twenty-six comparison groups (22 original studies and 4 subgroup analyses) with 53,364 patients were included. Mean follow-up was 192±303 days. There was no difference between the two groups in all-cause mortality [risk ratio (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.82-1.05, P=0.260), target vessel revascularization (TVR) (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 0.93-1.46, P=0.174) or stroke (RR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.71-1.18, P=0.490). Major bleeding was lower in the bivalirudin group with concomitant GPI in one or both arms (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.53-0.77, P<0.001) and without (RR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.51-0.99, P=0.041) provisional or routine GPIs. Bivalirudin appeared to have a higher risk of stent thrombosis (RR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04-1.68, P=0.022) and a trend towards more myocardial infarction (RR: 1.12; 95% CI: 0.98-1.28, P=0.098) though without statistical significance. However, exclusion of studies with GPI showed no difference in stent thrombosis or myocardial infarction with bivalirudin. CONCLUSIONS: Bivalirudin is associated with less major bleeding compared to heparin, regardless of GPI use. The lower anticoagulant effect of bivalirudin is linked with higher stent thrombosis and a trend towards more MI, however a confounding effect of GPI use in the heparin arm cannot be excluded.
ABSTRACT
Streptococcus gordonii (S. gordonii) is a pioneer oral bacteria that is recognized as an agent of bacterial endocarditis. However, an extensive review of the literature revealed no reported case of S. gordonii causing empyema. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who presented with respiratory distress. Physical examination revealed several dental caries with decreased breath sounds in the bibasilar regions. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest and abdomen demonstrated left-sided pleural effusion and a 4.3 cm x 2.8 cm splenic abscess. He received intravenous (IV) antibiotics, and his blood cultures remained negative. Drainage of the splenic abscess grew S. gordonii. A CT-guided thoracentesis yielded 450 ml of exudative fluid. Pleural fluid cultures grew S. gordonii. A CT scan of the head and neck ruled out an intra-oral abscess. He received six weeks of IV penicillin with a follow-up CT scan showing resolution of both the splenic abscess and the left parapneumonic effusion.