Predicting Pulmonary Embolism in Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients A Pilot Study.

Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common and costly complication following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Development of a refined thrombophilic screening panel will better equip clinicians to identify patients at high-est risk for developing VTEs. In this pilot study, 62 high-risk TJA recipients who had developed pulmonary emboli (PE) within 90-days of surgery were eligible to participate. Of these patients, 14 were enrolled and subsequently adminis-tered a pre-determined panel of 18 hematologic tests with the aim of identifying markers that are consistently elevated or deficient in patients developing PE. A separate cohort of seven high-risk TJA recipients who did not report a symp-tomatic VTE within 90-days of surgery were then enrolled and Factor VIII and lipoprotein(a) levels were assessed. The most common aberrance was noted in 10 patients (71.4%) who had elevated levels of Factor VIII followed by five patients (35.7%) who had elevated levels of lipoprotein(a). Factor VIII was significantly prevalent (p < 0.001) while lipoprotein(a) failed to achieve statistical significance (p = 0.0708). Of the patients who were within normal limits of Factor VIII, three-fourths were "high-normal" with Fac-tor VIII levels within 5% of the upper limit of normal. This study demonstrates the potential utility of this hematologic panel as part of a perioperative screening protocol aimed at identifying patients at risk for developing VTEs. However, future larger scale studies assessing the capabilities and limitations of our findings are warranted.

Development of a chemiluminescence assay for tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor complex and its applicability to gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), is a noteworthy complication in individuals with gastric cancer, but the current diagnosis and treatment methods lack accuracy. In this study, we developed a t-PAIC chemiluminescence kit and employed chemiluminescence to detect the tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor complex (t-PAIC), thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT), plasmin-α2-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC) and thrombomodulin (TM), combined with D-dimer and fibrin degradation products (FDP), to investigate their diagnostic potential for venous thrombosis in gastric cancer patients. The study assessed variations in six indicators among gastric cancer patients at different stages. RESULTS: The t-PAIC reagent showed LOD is 1.2 ng/mL and a linear factor R greater than 0.99. The reagents demonstrated accurate results, with all accuracy deviations being within 5%. The intra-batch and inter-batch CVs for the t-PAIC reagent were both within 8%. The correlation coefficient R between this method and Sysmex was 0.979. Gastric cancer patients exhibited elevated levels of TAT, PIC, TM, D-D, FDP compared to the healthy population, while no significant difference was observed in t-PAIC. In the staging of gastric cancer, patients in III-IV stages exhibit higher levels of the six markers compared to those in I-II stages. The ROC curve indicates an enhancement in sensitivity and specificity of the combined diagnosis of four or six indicators. CONCLUSION: Our chemiluminescence assay performs comparably to Sysmex's method and at a reduced cost. The use of multiple markers, including t-PAIC, TM, TAT, PIC, D-D, and FDP, is superior to the use of single markers for diagnosing VTE in patients with malignant tumors. Gastric cancer patients should be screened for the six markers to facilitate proactive prophylaxis, determine the most appropriate treatment timing, ameliorate their prognosis, decrease the occurrence of venous thrombosis and mortality, and extend their survival.

D-dimer and risk of venous thromboembolism recurrence: Comparison of two studies with similar designs but different laboratory and clinical results.

BACKGROUND: D-dimer testing may help deciding the duration of anticoagulation in subjects at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence. Two management studies on this issue have been published (DULCIS in 2014 and APIDULCIS in 2022). They had similar designs but had important different results. Aim of this article is to compare their results. METHODS: Both studies were finalized to extend anticoagulation [with vitamin K anticoagulants (VKAs) in DULCIS or apixaban 2.5 mg BID (kindly provided by BMS-Pfizer Collaboration) in APIDULCIS] only in patients with positive D-dimer results. RESULTS: More D-dimer assays resulted positive in APIDULCIS than in DULCIS (61.1 % vs 47.7 %, respectively; p < 0.0001). While only 4 (0.5 %) refused low dose apixaban in APIDULCIS, the 22.6 % of patients with positive D-dimer refused to resume VKAs in DULCIS; their rates of recurrence were 187 and 8.8 per 100 person-years, respectively (incidence rate ratio [IRR]: 21.2). The incidence of bleeding was low in those receiving apixaban vs those who resumed VKAs (0.4 vs 2.3 per 100 person-years, respectively; IRR 0.17;). While the recurrence rate was low and similar in the studies in subjects who resumed anticoagulation, it was significantly higher in APIDULCIS than in DULCIS in those who stopped anticoagulation for negative D-dimer (5.6 vs 3.0 per 100 person-years, respectively; IRR 1.9). CONCLUSION: The low dose Apixaban for extended VTE treatment is effective and safe, and well accepted by patients. Why subjects who stopped anticoagulation for negative D-dimer had a higher recurrence rate in APIDULCIS than in DULCIS remains to be explained.

Occult cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism: A nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Detecting occult cancer in patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant challenge. Our objective was to investigate the potential predictive role of coagulation-related biomarkers in the diagnosis of occult malignancies. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study with a 1-year prospective cohort of 214 patients with unprovoked VTE, with a focus on identifying occult cancer. At the time of VTE diagnosis, we measured various biomarkers, including soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), dimerized plasmin fragment D (D-dimer), platelets, leukocytes, hemoglobin, total extracellular vesicles (EVs), EVs expressing tissue factor on their surface (TF+EVs), and EVs expressing P-selectin on their surface (Psel+EVs) in all participants. RESULTS: We observed statistically significant increased levels of sP-selectin (P = .015) in patients with occult cancer. Despite an increase in Psel+EVs, TF+EVs, D-dimer, and platelets within this group, however, no significant differences were found. When sP-selectin exceeded 62 ng/mL and D-dimer surpassed 10,000 µg/L, the diagnosis of occult cancer demonstrated a specificity of up to 91% (95% CI, 79.9%-96.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of sP-selectin and D-dimer can be a valuable biomarker in detecting occult cancer in patients with unprovoked VTE. Further research is necessary to ascertain whether easily measurable biomarkers such as sP-selectin and D-dimer can effectively distinguish between patients who have VTE with and without hidden malignancies.

High microRNA-145 plasma levels are associated with decreased risk of future incident venous thromboembolism: the HUNT study.

ABSTRACT: MicroRNA-145 (miR-145) has been reported to downregulate the expression of tissue factor and factor XI in vitro and decrease venous thrombus formation in animal models. However, the association between miR-145 and risk of future venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the general population remains unknown. We investigated the association between plasma levels of miR-145 and risk of future VTE in a case-cohort study. Incident VTE cases (n = 510) and a subcohort (n = 1890) were derived from the third survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3), a population-based cohort. The expression levels of miR-145 were measured in plasma samples obtained at baseline. The study population was divided into quartiles based on miR-145 levels in participants in the subcohort, and weighted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Plasma levels of miR-145 were inversely associated with VTE risk. Participants with miR-145 levels in the highest quartile had a 49% lower risk of VTE (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.38-0.68) than those with miR-145 in the lowest quartile in age- and sex-adjusted analysis, and the inverse association was most pronounced for unprovoked VTE (HR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.61). Risk estimates remained virtually the same after further adjustment for body mass index, and cancer and arterial cardiovascular disease at baseline. In conclusion, elevated expression levels of miR-145 in plasma were associated with decreased risk of future incident VTE. The protective role of miR-145 against VTE is consistent with previous experimental data and suggests that miR-145 has the potential to be a target for VTE prevention.

Circulating Cytokines and Venous Thromboembolism: A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological evidence has linked circulating cytokines to venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, it remains uncertain whether these associations are causal due to confounding factors or reverse causality. We aim to explore the causality between circulating cytokines and VTE, encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: In the current bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study, instrumental variables of 41 circulating cytokines were obtained from the genome-wide association study meta-analyses (8,293 individuals). Summary statistics for the association of VTE (17,048 cases and 325,451 controls), DVT (8,077 cases and 295,014 controls), and PE (8,170 cases and 333,487 controls) were extracted from the FinnGen Study. A multivariable MR study was conducted to adjust for potential confounders. The inverse-variance weighted method was employed as the main analysis, and comprehensive sensitivity analyses were conducted in the supplementary analyses. RESULTS: The MR analysis indicated stromal cell-derived factor-1α was suggestively associated with a reduced risk of VTE (odds ratio [OR]: 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.81-0.99; p = 0.033) and DVT (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.75-0.97; p = 0.015). In addition, suggestive association of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with PE (OR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.06-1.37; p = 0.005) was observed. Multivariable MR analysis showed that the effect of cytokines on VTE was partly mediated through hemoglobin A1c and systolic blood pressure. Reverse MR analysis revealed that VTE was linked to decreased levels of several cytokines. CONCLUSION: We provide suggestive genetic evidence supporting the bidirectional causal effect between circulating cytokines and VTE, highlighting the importance of targeting circulating cytokines to reduce the incidence of VTE.

Serum PLA2R antibody as a predictive biomarker for venous thromboembolism risk in primary membranous nephropathy / El anticuerpo PLA2R sérico como biomarcador predictivo del riesgo de tromboembolia venosa en la nefropatía membranosa primaria

Background Patients with nephrotic syndrome are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), especially for primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). The phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is a marker of primary membranous nephropathy activity. This study investigated the predictive value of PLA2R antibodies in PMN for VTE.Methods In this retrospective study, we included 97 PMN patients and evaluated the predictive value of serum PLA2R antibodies for VTE risk. Lower extremity venous ultrasound, renal vein ultrasound, or spiral computed tomography pulmonary arteriography were used to assess VTE events. Serum anti-PLA2R antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The risk of VTE was stratified according to serum albumin levels. Results Twenty PMN patients (21%) had thromboembolic events. Eight (15%) of patients with serum albumin >25g/l developed VTE, 6 of whom were positive for serum PLA2R antibodies. Positive serum PLA2R antibodies were significantly associated with VTE events in patients with serum albumin >25g/l (p=0.01). Age, sex, blood creatinine, serum albumin, and 24-h urine protein levels were not statistically different between the two groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis using the log-rank test revealed anti-PLA2R positive membranous nephropathy patients had more probability of VTE events than anti-PLA2R negative patients. Univariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that lnPLA2R-Ab is an unfavorable predictor for VTE events in patients with serum albumin >25g/l (hazard ratio (HR) 2.1, p=0.01). Conclusions The PLA2R antibody was a risk predictor for thromboembolic events in patients with primary membranous nephropathy with serum albumin >25g/l (AU)

Antecedentes Los pacientes con síndrome nefrótico presentan un alto riesgo de tromboembolia venosa (TEV), especialmente en el caso de la nefropatía membranosa primaria (NMP). El receptor de fosfolipasa A2 (PLA2R) es un marcador de la actividad de la NMP. Este estudio investigó el valor predictivo de los anticuerpos PLA2R en NMP para TEV. Métodos En este estudio retrospectivo, se incluyeron 97 pacientes con NMP y se evaluó el valor predictivo de los anticuerpos PLA2R en suero para el riesgo de TEV. Se utilizaron la ecografía venosa de las extremidades inferiores, la ecografía de la vena renal o la arteriografía pulmonar por tomografía computarizada en espiral para evaluar los episodios de TEV. Los anticuerpos séricos anti-PLA2R se detectaron mediante un ensayo inmunoenzimático (ELISA). El riesgo de TEV se estratificó en función de los niveles de albúmina sérica. Resultados Veinte pacientes con NMP (21%) presentaron episodios tromboembólicos. Ocho (15%) de los pacientes con albúmina sérica>25g/l desarrollaron TEV, 6 de los cuales fueron positivos para anticuerpos PLA2R séricos. La positividad de los anticuerpos PLA2R séricos se asoció significativamente con episodios de TEV en pacientes con albúmina sérica>25g/l (p=0,01). La edad, el sexo, la creatinina en sangre, la albúmina sérica y los niveles de proteínas en orina de 24h no fueron estadísticamente diferentes entre los 2 grupos. El análisis de Kaplan-Meier mediante la prueba de rangos logarítmicos reveló que los pacientes con nefropatía membranosa positivos para anti-PLA2R tenían más probabilidad de sufrir TEV que los pacientes negativos para anti-PLA2R. El análisis univariante de riesgos proporcionales de Cox reveló que ln PLA2R-Ab es un predictor desfavorable de episodios de TEV en pacientes con albúmina sérica>25g/l (hazard ratio 2,1; p=0,01). Conclusiones El anticuerpo PLA2R fue un predictor de riesgo de episodios tromboembólicos en pacientes con NMP con albúmina sérica>25g/l (AU)

Unveiling the diagnostic enigma of D-dimer testing in cancer patients: Current evidence and areas of application.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a well-known risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). A combined strategy of D-dimer testing and clinical pre-test probability is usually used to exclude VTE. However, its effectiveness is diminished in cancer patients due to reduced specificity, ultimately leading to a decreased clinical utility. This review article seeks to provide a comprehensive summary of how to interpret D-dimer testing in cancer patients. METHODS: In accordance with PRISMA standards, literature pertaining to the diagnostic and prognostic significance of D-dimer testing in cancer patients was carefully chosen from reputable sources such as PubMed and the Cochrane databases. RESULTS: D-dimers have not only a diagnostic value in ruling out VTE but can also serve as an aid for rule-in if their values exceed 10-times the upper limit of normal. This threshold allows a diagnosis of VTE in cancer patients with a positive predictive value of more than 80%. Moreover, elevated D-dimers carry important prognostic information and are associated with VTE reoccurrence. A gradual increase in risk for all-cause death suggests that VTE is also an indicator of biologically more aggressive cancer types and advanced cancer stages. Considering the lack of standardization for D-dimer assays, it is essential for clinicians to carefully consider the variations in assay performance and the specific test characteristics of their institution. CONCLUSIONS: Standardizing D-dimer assays and developing modified pretest probability models specifically for cancer patients, along with adjusted cut-off values for D-dimer testing, could significantly enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of VTE diagnosis in this population.

Plasma levels of coagulation factors VIII and IX and risk of venous thromboembolism: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The associations of plasma factor VIII (FVIII) and factor IX (FIX) levels with risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are not well defined. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of these associations. METHODS: Random effects inverse-variance weighted meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled odds ratios for comparisons across equal quartiles of the distributions and 90 % thresholds (higher versus lower), and for testing linear trends. RESULTS: Among 15 studies (5327 cases) the pooled odds ratio of VTE for the fourth versus first quarter was 3.92 (95 % confidence interval 1.61, 5.29) for FVIII level; and among 7 studies (3498 cases) 1.57 (1.32, 1.87) for FIX level. Comparing factor levels above, versus below, the 90th percentile, the estimated pooled odds ratios were 3.00 (2.10, 4.30) for FVIII; 1.77 (1.22, 2.56) for FIX; and 4.56 (2.73, 7.63) for both FVIII and FIX considered jointly. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm increases in risk of VTE across population distributions of FVIII and FIX levels. Levels above the 90th percentile have almost twice the risk for FIX level compared to levels below; three-fold risk for FVIII level; and almost five-fold risk for both FVIII and FIX levels elevated.

Impact of the von Willebrand factor-ADAMTS-13 axis on the risk of future venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: von Willebrand factor (VWF) and its cleaving protease, ADAMTS-13, form a pivotal axis that regulates hemostasis. However, the role of the VWF-ADAMTS-13 axis in the risk of future venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether plasma ADAMTS-13 levels and an imbalance with VWF levels, assessed as the VWF/ADAMTS-13 ratio, are associated with the risk of future VTE. PATIENTS/METHODS: A population-based nested case-control study, comprising 383 incident VTE cases and 780 age- and sex-matched controls, was derived from the Tromsø study cohort (1994-2007). Antigen levels of ADAMTS-13 and VWF were measured in plasma samples obtained at cohort baseline. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were estimated according to quartile cutoffs of ADAMTS-13 and VWF/ADAMTS-13 ratio determined in controls. RESULTS: In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, ADAMTS-13 levels were inversely associated with the VTE risk, with an OR of 1.40 (95% CI, 0.99-1.99) for the lowest vs highest quartiles. The VWF/ADAMTS-13 ratio was linearly associated with the VTE risk (P for trend = .001), with an OR of 1.70 (95% CI, 1.19-2.43) for the highest vs lowest quartiles, and the association was particularly pronounced for unprovoked VTE (OR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.65-4.81). The ORs were only slightly attenuated after additional adjustments for body mass index and C-reactive protein. CONCLUSIONS: Lowered ADAMTS-13 levels and an imbalance between ADAMTS-13 and VWF levels, reflected by an increased VWF/ADAMTS-13 ratio, were associated with an increased risk of future VTE. Our findings suggest that the VWF-ADAMTS-13 axis is involved in the pathogenesis of VTE.

[Clinical characteristics and presentation form in patients with venous thromboembolism and negative or weakly positive D-dimer]. / Características clínicas y forma de presentación en pacientes con enfermedad tromboembólica venosa y dímero-D negativo o débilmente positivo.

INTRODUCTION: D-dimer has a high negative predictive value for the diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease (VTE). However, VTE has been reported in the presence of normal D-dimer values. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study in patients with VTE from Hospital Gregorio Marañón between 2001 and 2022, comparing the characteristics of clinical presentation based on D-dimer levels (<500 ng/mL vs. ≥500 ng/mL). RESULTS: A total of 2582 patients were found, 333 patients (12.9%) presented negative or weakly positive D-dimer levels. They were significantly younger (57.9 vs. 65.3 years), with a lower prevalence of comorbidities (ischemic heart disease, dementia, and chronic kidney disease), and a greater family history of VTE (8.4% vs. 5.2%) and thrombophilia (11.7% vs. 7.8%). They presented significantly less dyspnea (57.6% vs. 75.4%), syncope (3% vs. 13.5%), less thrombotic load, elevated NT-pro-BNP (22.0% vs. 48.2%), and right ventricle dilatation (8.1% vs. 30.0%). CONCLUSION: Patients with VTE and low D-dimer levels at diagnosis were younger, with milder clinical presentation and lower thrombotic load; but they presented a higher prevalence of thrombophilia and a family history of VTE.

Evaluation of DOAC Dipstick Test for Detecting Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Urine Compared with a Clinically Relevant Plasma Threshold Concentration.

Measuring direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) concentrations might be necessary in certain clinical situations but is not routinely performed. The DOAC Dipstick is a new rapid test for detecting DOACs in urine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible uses and limitations of the DOAC Dipstick and to compare visual analysis and DOASENSE Reader analysis of DOAC Dipstick pads. Plasma and urine samples were collected from 23 patients taking DOACs. DOAC concentrations in plasma and urine were measured by chromogenic substrate assays and in urine also by the DOAC Dipstick. Plasma concentrations were dichotomized at a threshold of ≥30 ng/mL. Patient samples were compared with samples from control individuals not using anticoagulants (n = 10) and with DOASENSE control urines. The Combur-10 test was used to measure parameters that may affect urine color and hence the interpretation of the DOAC Dipstick result. DOAC Dipstick test results were positive in 21/23 patient urine samples at a plasma DOAC concentration of ≥30 ng/mL and in 2/23 patient urine samples at a plasma DOAC concentration of <30 ng/mL. Inter-observer agreement was above 90% for visual analysis of patient urine samples and was 100% for DOASENSE Reader analysis of patient urines and for analysis of control group urines and DOASENSE control urines. Abnormalities in urine color detected by the Combur-10 test did not affect the DOAC Dipstick results. DOAC Dipstick detects DOACs in urine at a plasma threshold of ≥30 ng/mL. Positive DOAC Dipstick results should be confirmed by measuring DOAC plasma concentration.

Thrombin Generation in Cardiac Versus Noncardiac Surgical Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Bleeding can be a significant problem after cardiac surgery. As a result, venous thromboembolism (VTE) or anticoagulation or both following mechanical valve implantation are often delayed in these patients. The calibrated automated thrombin (CAT) generation assay has become the gold standard to evaluate thrombin generation, a critical step in clot formation independent of other hemostatic processes (eg, platelet activation, fibrin cross-linking, and fibrinolysis), and is increasingly used to examine thrombotic and hemorrhagic outcomes. No study has currently used this assay to compare the thrombin generation profiles of cardiac surgical patients to noncardiac surgical patients. We hypothesize that noncardiac patients may be less prone to postoperative changes in thrombin generation. METHODS: A prospective, observational, cohort study was undertaken using blood samples from 50 cardiac and 50 noncardiac surgical patients preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and on postoperative days 1 to 4. Platelet-poor plasma samples were obtained from patients preoperatively, on arrival to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) or intensive care unit (ICU), and daily on postoperative days 1 to 4 if patients remained inpatient. Samples were evaluated for CAT measurements. Patient and surgical procedure characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical record. RESULTS: The primary outcome variable, median endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), measured in nanomolar × minutes (nM × min), was decreased 100% in cardiac surgical versus 2% in noncardiac patients (P < .001). All parameters of thrombin generation were similarly depressed. Cardiac (versus noncardiac) surgical type was associated with -76.5% difference of percent change in ETP on multivariable regression analysis (95% confidence interval [CI], -87.4 to -65.5; P value <.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac surgical patients exhibit a profound decrease in thrombin generation postoperatively compared with noncardiac surgical patients evaluated by this study. Hemodilution and coagulation factor depletion likely contribute to this decreased thrombin generation after cardiac surgery.

The clinical significance of ultra-high D-dimer levels.

OBJECTIVE: Plasma D-dimer levels >5000 ng/mL are encountered in a number of conditions other than venous thromboembolism (VTE). Recent studies have used plasma D-dimer levels as a prognostic indicator for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. The implications of abnormal levels are less clear for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 with a baseline elevation in plasma D-dimer levels. In the present study, we reviewed the occurrence of plasma D-dimer levels >5000 ng/mL and investigated the clinical significance of this finding before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Inpatient records for a 4-year period were screened for laboratory results of plasma D-dimer levels >5000 ng/mL. The patient data were reviewed for the clinical identifiers commonly associated with elevated plasma D-dimer levels, including VTE, cancer, sepsis, pneumonia, other infection, bleeding, and trauma. The patients were then categorized into groups stratified by the plasma D-dimer level to allow for comparisons between the various clinical diagnoses. RESULTS: A total of 671 patients were included in the present study. VTE was the most common diagnosis for patients with a plasma D-dimer level >5000 ng/mL, followed by cancer and pneumonia. Multiple clinical diagnoses were present in 61% of the patients. No clear cause for the ultra-high plasma D-dimer level could be identified in 11.3% of the patients. Among the patients lacking a clinical diagnosis at discharge, mortality was 24% in the 5000- to 10,000-ng/mL group, 28.6% in the 10,000- to 15,000-ng/mL group, and 75% in the >15,000-ng/mL group. CONCLUSIONS: VTE, cancer, and pneumonia were frequently present when ultra-high plasma D-dimer levels were encountered, and mortality was high when the levels were >15,000 ng/mL. The results from our study from a pre-COVID-19 patient population suggest that ultra-high plasma D-dimer levels indicate the presence of severe underlying disease. This should be considered when using the plasma D-dimer level as a screening tool or prognostic indicator for COVID-19 infection.

Evaluation of procoagulant imbalance in Cushing's syndrome after short- and long-term remission of disease.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS) are at high risk of venous thromboembolism related to a hypercoagulability due to procoagulant imbalance. However, whether these alterations are reversible after disease remission is still unclear. The endogenous thrombin potential (ETP) measured with and without the addition of thrombomodulin provides a global representation of coagulation and previous data confirmed hypercoagulable profile in patients with active hypercortisolism. Aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term modification of ETP in patients with CS after disease remission. DESIGN AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with CS for whom surgical remission was achieved, were prospectively evaluated for clinical characteristics, cortisol secretion profile and ETP at different time points: (i) before surgical intervention; (ii) after 6 months and (iii) 5 years from the time of persistent remission. Nineteen healthy subjects matched for age and gender were also evaluated as control group. RESULTS: Before surgery, patients showed higher ETP-ratio (with/without thrombomodulin) than controls (0.62 ± 0.09-vs-0.56 ± 0.09, p = 0.034). No significant correlation between ETP-ratio and cortisol secretion was found. 6 months after remission, ETP-ratio was still significantly increased compared to controls (0.64 ± 0.09-vs-0.56 ± 0.09, p = 0.01), but was similar to baseline (0.64 ± 0.09-vs-0.62 ± 0.09, p = 0.87). At 5 years, ETP-ratio showed a significant decrease (0.55 ± 0.14-vs-0.62 ± 0.09, p = 0.02) and was comparable to controls (0.55 ± 0.14-vs-0.56 ± 0.09, p = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma hypercoagulability detected in patients with active hypercortisolism persists at short-term evaluation and seems to be completely reversible after long-term remission of disease. These data, as part of a whole evaluation of thrombotic risk, can contribute to make appropriate therapeutic choice in these patients.

Using a low-molecular weight heparin-calibrated anti-factor Xa assay to assess the concentration of apixaban and rivaroxaban.

INTRODUCTION: Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)-inhibiting factor Xa (FXa-DOAC) are being increasingly used as prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism and for prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. In contrast to vitamin K antagonists, DOACs do not require monitoring in general. However, it is sometimes of value in the acute setting, for instance when considering a reversal agent in uncontrolled bleeding in patients on DOAC. METHODS: We evaluated if a low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH)-calibrated anti-factor Xa assay could be used to estimate FXa-DOAC concentration in the concentration range <100 ng/mL by spiking known concentrations of FXa-DOAC and from those result calculate the FXa-DOAC concentration from the response of the LMWH assay. This procedure was then evaluated by comparing the result with a drug-calibrated chromogenic assay and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on clinical plasma samples from patients treated with apixaban or rivaroxaban. RESULTS: Although the measuring range was narrower for the LMWH-calibrated assay, concentrations recalculated from the LMWH assay was comparable with those measured by the drug-calibrated method when compared with LC-MS/MS. CONCLUSION: We suggest that an LMWH-calibrated anti-factor Xa assay can be used after characterization of the response of FXa-DOACs to give guidance on the concentration of apixaban and rivaroxaban. Shorter turnaround time than LC-MS/MS and the greater availability than drug-calibrated chromogenic assays could make this a valuable option in the acute setting.

Enoxaparin titrated by anti-Xa levels reduces venous thromboembolism in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Trauma is a major risk factor for the development of a venous thromboembolism (VTE). After observing higher than expected VTE rates within our center's Trauma Quality Improvement Program data, we instituted a change in our VTE prophylaxis protocol, moving to enoxaparin dosing titrated by anti-Xa levels. We hypothesized that this intervention would lower our symptomatic VTE rates. METHODS: Adult trauma patients at a single institution meeting National Trauma Data Standard criteria from April 2015 to September 2019 were examined with regards to VTE chemoprophylaxis regimen and VTE incidence. Two groups of patients were identified based on VTE protocol-those who received enoxaparin 30 mg twice daily without routine anti-Xa levels ("pre") versus those who received enoxaparin 40 mg twice daily with dose titrated by serial anti-Xa levels ("post"). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to define statistically significant differences in VTE incidence between the two cohorts. RESULTS: There were 1698 patients within the "pre" group and 1406 patients within the "post" group. The two groups were essentially the same in terms of demographics and risk factors for bleeding or thrombosis. There was a statistically significant reduction in VTE rate (p = 0.01) and deep vein thrombosis rate (p = 0.01) but no significant reduction in pulmonary embolism rate (p = 0.21) after implementation of the anti-Xa titration protocol. Risk-adjusted Trauma Quality Improvement Program data showed an improvement in rate of symptomatic pulmonary embolism from fifth decile to first decile. CONCLUSION: A protocol titrating prophylactic enoxaparin dose based on anti-Xa levels reduced VTE rates. Implementation of this type of protocol requires diligence from the physician and pharmacist team. Further research will investigate the impact of protocol compliance and time to appropriate anti-Xa level on incidence of VTE. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/care management, Level IV.

Comparison of the in vitro clot-capturing efficiencies of commercially available retrievable inferior vena cava filters.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the in vitro clot-capturing efficiencies (CCEs) of commercially available retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters. METHODS: Four types of commercially available retrievable IVC filters were included in the present study: Denali (BD, Franklin Lakes, NJ), OptEase (Cordis Corp, Hialeah, Fla), Celect (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Ind), and Option (Argon Medical Devices, Frisco, Tex). The CCE of each IVC filter for 10 different size clots, ranging from 2 mm × 10 mm to 6 mm × 20 mm, was analyzed using a venous flow simulator. RESULTS: When ≥4 × 10-mm clots were used, the CCEs were 100% for all four types of IVC filters in a 20-mm-diameter simulated IVC filter. However, when ≤3 × 20-mm clots were used, the CCEs were significantly different among the four types of filters in a 20-mm-diameter simulated IVC, with the Denali showing the highest CCE, followed by the OptEase, Celect, and Option. When ≥6 × 10-mm clots were used, the CCEs were 100% for all four types of IVC filters in the 25-mm-diameter simulated IVC. However, when ≤5 × 20-mm clots were used, the CCEs were significantly different among the four types of filters in the 25-mm-diameter simulated IVC, with the Denali showing the highest CCE. When ≤5 × 10-mm clots were used, the CCEs were significantly lower in the 25-mm-diameter simulated IVC than in the 20-mm-diameter simulated IVC for all four types of IVC filters, with Option showing the greatest change in CCEs, followed by the Celect, OptEase, and Denali. CONCLUSIONS: The CCEs were significantly different among the four IVC filters and were significantly lower for the smaller size clots than for the larger size clots and for the larger diameter simulated IVC than for the smaller diameter simulated IVC.

Using a Simple Prescription Gap to Determine Warfarin Discontinuation Can Lead to Substantial Misclassification.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin remains widely used and a key comparator in studies of other direct oral anticoagulants. As longer-than-needed warfarin prescriptions are often provided to allow for dosing adjustments according to international normalized ratios (INRs), the common practice of using a short allowable gap between dispensings to define warfarin discontinuation may lead to substantial misclassification of warfarin exposure. We aimed to quantify such misclassification and determine the optimal algorithm to define warfarin discontinuation. METHODS: We linked Medicare claims data from 2007 to 2014 with a multicenter electronic health records system. The study cohort comprised patients ≥65 years with atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism initiating warfarin. We compared results when defining warfarin discontinuation by (1) different gaps (3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days) between dispensings and (2) having a gap ≤60 days or bridging larger gaps if there was INR ordering at least every 42 days (60_INR). Discontinuation was considered misclassified if there was an INR ≥2 within 7 days after the discontinuation date. RESULTS: Among 3,229 patients, a shorter gap resulted in a shorter mean follow-up time (82, 95, 117, 159, 196, and 259 days for gaps of 3, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 60_INR, respectively; p < 0.001). Incorporating INR (60_INR) can reduce misclassification of warfarin discontinuation from 68 to 4% (p < 0.001). The on-treatment risk estimation of clinical endpoints varied significantly by discontinuation definitions. CONCLUSION: Using a short gap between warfarin dispensings to define discontinuation may lead to substantial misclassification, which can be improved by incorporating intervening INR codes.