The incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in patients treated with low molecular weight heparin for superficial vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: The risk of heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) associated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for treatment of superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) is uncertain. As a result the necessity of platelet count monitoring is unclear in this setting. AIMS: To assess the risk of HIT in outpatients treated with LMWH for SVT. METHODS: In a prospective single centre study we included all symptomatic outpatients in whom a real-time B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography examination revealed SVT without DVT. Patients treated with vitamin K antagonists or fondaparinux were excluded. Patients received full dose enoxaparin for 1week followed by half therapeutic dose for 3weeks or parnaparin 8500UI aXa for 10days followed by 6400UI aXa once daily for 20days. Platelet count was performed on the day of diagnosis (D0) and 7 (D7), and 14 (D14) days afterward. Primary outcomes were the rate of thromboembolic events and of HIT during a 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: 678 outpatients (age: 64.7±16.2years, male: 42.0%) were evaluated. During follow-up, 7 venous thrombo-embolic events were recorded (1.03% CI 95%: 0.50-2.11%), while no major bleeding was observed (0.0% CI 95%: 0.0-0.56%). Platelet count was 255±93×10(9)/L at D0, 245±93×10(9)/L at D7 (p=0.204 vs. D0) and 261±116×10(9)/L at D14 (p=0.405 vs. D0). No fall in platelet count>50% and no case of HIT were recorded (HR 0.0% CI 95%: 0-0.56%). CONCLUSIONS: A 4-week LMWH treatment for SVT is associated with an incidence of HIT lower than 0.6% and platelet count monitoring may be omitted in this setting.

The SAME-TT2R2 score predicts the quality of anticoagulation control in patients with acute VTE. A real-life inception cohort study.

The SAMe-TT2R2 score has recently been proposed to predict the quality of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) anticoagulation control in patients with atrial fibrillation. We aimed at investigating whether the score is effective also in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE). Patients included in the START-Register because started VKA therapy for a recent VTE episode and with > 3 months follow-up were analyzed. The score was calculated using the baseline patient's characteristics present in the electronic database of the registry, where all INR results were also available and analysed to calculate the time in therapeutic range (TTR). A total of 1308 patients (53.4 % female, median age 68 years) were analysed. During 998 patient-years follow-up, the median TTR was 63 %. The maximum score in the patients was 4, with 70 % of them having 0-1. INR controls within range (2.0-3.0) were significantly less prevalent in patients with score ≥ 2 vs 0-1 score (58.5 ± 20 % vs 61.5 ± 19 %, respectively, p = 0.046). Patients with score ≥ 2 vs 0-1 had a highly significant lower TTR during the first 3 months of therapy (53 ± 26 % and 61 ± 26 %, respectively; p=0.0001), difference mainly due to more time spent below 2.0 INR (38 ± 28 % vs 31.3 ± 26.7 %, respectively; p=0.0001). In conclusion, the study proved, for the first time, that the SAMe-TT2R2 score is useful to predict among VTE patients those who will have good (score 0-1) or less good (score ≥ 2) VKA anticoagulation control. The score can help decision-making in everyday clinical practice, especially when choosing between VKA and non-vitamin K antagonists direct anticoagulants.

A new warfarin dosing algorithm including VKORC1 3730 G > A polymorphism: comparison with results obtained by other published algorithms.

PURPOSE: Warfarin dosing is affected by clinical and genetic variants, but the contribution of the genotype associated with warfarin resistance in pharmacogenetic algorithms has not been well assessed yet. We developed a new dosing algorithm including polymorphisms associated both with warfarin sensitivity and resistance in the Italian population, and its performance was compared with those of eight previously published algorithms. METHODS: Clinical and genetic data (CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, VKORC1 -1639 G > A, and VKORC1 3730 G > A) were used to elaborate the new algorithm. Derivation and validation groups comprised 55 (58.2% men, mean age 69 years) and 40 (57.5% men, mean age 70 years) patients, respectively, who were on stable anticoagulation therapy for at least 3 months with different oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) indications. RESULTS: Performance of the new algorithm, evaluated with mean absolute error (MAE) defined as the absolute value of the difference between observed daily maintenance dose and predicted daily dose, correlation with the observed dose and R(2) value, was comparable with or slightly lower than that obtained using the other algorithms. The new algorithm could correctly assign 53.3%, 50.0%, and 57.1% of patients to the low (≤25 mg/week), intermediate (26-44 mg/week) and high (≥ 45 mg/week) dosing range, respectively. Our data showed a significant increase in predictive accuracy among patients requiring high warfarin dose compared with the other algorithms (ranging from 0% to 28.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The algorithm including VKORC1 3730 G > A, associated with warfarin resistance, allowed a more accurate identification of resistant patients who require higher warfarin dosage.

Evolution of untreated calf deep-vein thrombosis in high risk symptomatic outpatients: the blind, prospective CALTHRO study.

The natural history of calf deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) is still uncertain and it is debated whether it warrants to be diagnosed and treated. We aimed to investigate the complication rate of untreated isolated calf DVT (ICDVT). Symptomatic outpatients were prospectively managed with serial compression ultrasonography (SCUS). Those without proximal DVT and with likely pre-test clinical probability (PCP) or altered D-dimer received immediate subsequent complete examination of calf deep veins (CCUS) by a different operator. The result of CCUS was kept blind both to the managing doctor and the patient and disclosed after three months. Primary outcome was the rate of venous thromboembolism at three months. We examined 431 subjects (196 males; median age 68.0 years) in whom five outcomes were recorded (1.2%; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.4-2.7). If CCUS results had been available, outcomes would have been recorded in 3/424 patients (0.7%; 95% CI: 0.2-2.1) with two events in subjects negative at both serial and complete CUS. ICDVT was diagnosed in 65 subjects (15.3%; 95% CI: 12-19); of whom 59 remained uneventful (one was lost to follow-up). A significant higher rate of outcomes was recorded in subjects with than without ICDVT (5/64; 7.8%; 95% CI: 3-17 vs. 3/351; 0.8%; 95% CI: 0-2; p=0.003). However, after excluding two events picked at serial CUS in subjects with ICDVT, the difference became barely significant (3/64; 4.7%; 95% CI: 1-13; p=0.049). Thrombotic evolution of untreated ICDVT in high-risk subjects may be relevant. Larger studies are needed to address this issue.

D-dimer levels in combination with residual venous obstruction and the risk of recurrence after anticoagulation withdrawal for a first idiopathic deep vein thrombosis.

We assessed the predictive value of D-dimer levels in combination with residual venous obstruction (RVO) for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a prospective cohort of outpatients after oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) suspension for a first episode of idiopathic proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs during a 2-year follow-up. Patients (n=400) were enrolled on the day of OAT suspension when RVO was determined by compression ultrasonography (present in 48.6% of patients). D-dimer (cut-off value: 500 ng/mL) was measured 30+/-10 days afterwards (abnormal in 56.4% of patients). The overall recurrence rate was 16.7% (67/400; 95% confidence intervals - CI -: 13-21 %). The multivariate hazard ratio (HR) for recurrence was 3.32 (95% CI: 1.78-6.75; p<0.0001) for abnormal D-dimer compared to normal D-dimer and 1.2 (95% CI:0.72-2.07; p>0.05) for RVO compared to absent RVO. The recurrence rate was 5.7% (95% CI:2-13%) and 10.4% (95% CI:6-18%), respectively, for normal D-dimer either without or with RVO, 22.9% (95% CI: 14-33%) and 25.9% (95% CI: 18-35%), respectively, for abnormal D-dimer, either without or with RVO. When compared with normal D-dimer without RVO, the multivariate HR for recurrence was similar for abnormal D-dimer either with RVO (4.76 - 95% CI:1.78-12.8) or without RVO (4.3-95%:1.56-11.88). Abnormal D-dimer at one month after OAT withdrawal is an independent risk factor for recurrent VTE, while RVO at the time of OAT withdrawal, either with normal or abnormal D-dimer after one month, does not influence the risk of recurrence.

Thrombophilic abnormalities and recurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients treated with standardized anticoagulant treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Whether patients with hereditary or acquired thrombophilia have an increased risk for recurrence of venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of recurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients with and without thrombophilic abnormalities treated with standardized anticoagulant treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Database was from a prospective multicenter randomized study aimed at evaluating the long-term clinical benefit of extending to 1 year the 3-month oral anticoagulant treatment after a first episode of idiopathic proximal deep vein thrombosis. The screening for thrombophilia included antithrombin, protein C, protein S deficiencies, resistance to activated protein C and/or factor V R506Q mutation, the mutation 20210GA of the prothrombin gene, hyperhomocysteinemia and antiphospholipid antibodies. The diagnosis of venous thromboembolism recurrence was done by objective tests and adjudicated by a panel unaware of the results of the thrombophilia screening. RESULTS: A screening for thrombophilic abnormalities was performed in 195 patients. Twenty of 57 (35.1%) thrombophilic patients experienced a recurrence of venous thromboembolism as compared with 29 of 138 (21.0%) patients without thrombophilia (HR=1.78, 95% CI 1.002-3.140, p=0.046). The difference in VTE recurrence between patients with and without thrombophilia was accounted for by those who received 3 months of oral anticoagulation (HR=3.21, 95% CI 1.349-7.616, p=0.008). No difference between thrombophilic and non-thrombophilic patients was observed in the time interval from the index episode to recurrent venous thromboembolism (29.1+/-23.9 and 30.6+/-19.8 months, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombophilic abnormalities are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism recurrence. The role of thrombophilia in the long-term management of venous thromboembolism should be addressed in prospective management studies.

The role of D-dimer and residual venous obstruction in recurrence of venous thromboembolism after anticoagulation withdrawal in cancer patients.

We assessed the predictive value of D-dimer (D-d) and residual venous obstruction (RVO), alone or in combination, for recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) over a 2-year follow-up in a cohort of 88 cancer patients after oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) withdrawal following a first episode of proximal deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. RVO, determined by compression ultrasonography on the day of OAT suspension (T1), and abnormal D-d (cut-off value: 500 ng/mL), measured at T1 and 30+/-10 days afterwards, are independent risk factors for recurrent VTE in cancer patients.

Risks factors for highly unstable response to oral anticoagulation: a case-control study.

The factors associated with persistent instability of oral anticoagulant treatment (OAT) were investigated in a case-control study. The most unstable patients from 35 Italian anticoagulation clinics were matched with stable controls, for gender, age and OAT indication. Socio-demographic data, medical history, dietary and life habits, cytochrome P450 CYP2C9 variants, blood cell count, liver and renal functions were investigated. An 'Abbreviated Mental Test' (AMT) and a questionnaire to assess patient compliance to, and comprehension of, OAT indications and mechanisms were administered. An International Normalized Ratio (INR) above 4.5 was more frequently found in cases (n = 77) than controls (n = 80) (12.3% vs. 0.4%; P < 0.0001). The odds ratio for instability was significantly higher for: people who worked versus pensioners, acenocoumarol versus warfarin, and an insufficient score in the AMT and/or in the questionnaire. Cytochrome P450 CYP2C9 variants *1/*3 or *2/*3 or *3/*3 were more frequent among cases than controls (29.9% vs.15.0%; P = 0.042). No differences were observed as regards the other variables. In conclusion, we found that high intra-individual variability in OAT control was multifactorial, but poor OAT comprehension was prevalent.

Risk of venous thromboembolism recurrence: high negative predictive value of D-dimer performed after oral anticoagulation is stopped.

In some patients with previous venous thromboembolism (VTE) D-dimer levels (D-Dimer) tend to increase after oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) is stopped. The aim of our study was to evaluate the predictive value of D-Dimer for the risk of VTE recurrence after OAT withdrawal. After a first episode of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower limbs and/or pulmonary embolism (PE), 396 patients (median age 67 years, 198 males) were followed from the day of OAT discontinuation for 21 months. D-dimer was measured on the day of OAT withdrawal (T1), 3-4 weeks (T2) and 3 months (+/- 10 days, T3) thereafter. The main outcome events of the study were: objectively documented recurrent DVT and/or PE. D-dimer was found to be increased in 15.5%, 40.3% and 46.2% of the patients at T1, T2 and T3, respectively. In 199 (50.2%) patients, D-dimer levels were elevated in at least one measurement. During a follow-up of 628.4 years, 40 recurrences were recorded (10.1% of patients; 6.4% patient-years of follow-up). D-dimer was increased in at least one measurement in 28 of these cases, but remained normal in 11 subjects (three of whom had recurrent events triggered by circumstantial factors, three with malignancy-associated factors) (in one subject D-dimer was not measured). The negative predictive value (NPV) of D-dimer was 95.6% (95% CI 91.6-98.1) at T3 and was even higher (96.7%; 95% CI 92.9-98.8) after exclusion of the six recurrences due to circumstantial factors. Only five idiopathic recurrences occurred in the 186 patients with consistently normal D-dimer. In conclusion, D-dimer has a high NPV for VTE recurrence when performed after OAT discontinuation.