Home versus in-hospital treatment of outpatients with acute deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs.

BACKGROUND: Some physicians are still concerned about the safety of treatment at home of patients with acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT). METHODS: We used data from the RIETE (Registro Informatizado de la Enfermedad TromboEmbólica) registry to compare the outcomes in consecutive outpatients with acute lower limb DVT according to initial treatment at home or in the hospital. A propensity score-matching analysis was carried out with a logistic regression model. RESULTS: As of December 2012, 13,493 patients had been enrolled. Of these, 4456 (31%) were treated at home. Patients treated at home were more likely to be male and younger and to weigh more; they were less likely than those treated in the hospital to have chronic heart failure, lung disease, renal insufficiency, anemia, recent bleeding, immobilization, or cancer. During the first week of anticoagulation, 27 patients (0.20%) suffered pulmonary embolism (PE), 12 (0.09%) recurrent DVT, and 51 (0.38%) major bleeding; 80 (0.59%) died. When only patients treated at home were considered, 12 (0.27%) had PE, 4 (0.09%) had recurrent DVT, 6 (0.13%) bled, and 4 (0.09%) died (no fatal PE, 3 fatal bleeds). After propensity analysis, patients treated at home had a similar rate of venous thromboembolism recurrences and a lower rate of major bleeding (odds ratio, 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-1.0) or death (odds ratio, 0.2; 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.7) within the first week compared with those treated in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: In outpatients with DVT, home treatment was associated with a better outcome than treatment in the hospital. These data may help safely treat more DVT patients at home.

Clinical characteristics of patients with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A and a first episode of venous thromboembolism. Findings from the RIETE Registry.

BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics of patients with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A presenting with a first episode of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have not been thoroughly studied. METHODS: RIETE is an ongoing registry of consecutive patients with acute VTE. We compared the clinical characteristics of patients with factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, or no thrombophilia, at presentation with a first episode of VTE. RESULTS: As of May 2009, 22428 patients had been enrolled with a first episode of VTE. Of these, 345 had factor V Leiden, 261 had prothrombin G20210A, and 2399 tested negative. Sixty-two percent of the VTE episodes in women with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A (40% in men) were associated with an acquired risk factor. Among women, pregnancy or contraceptive use accounted for 63% and 67% of such risk factors. Patients with factor V Leiden presented with pulmonary embolism (PE) less likely than those with prothrombin G20210A (31% vs. 51%; p<0.001) or with negative testing (31% vs. 45%, p<0.001). In addition, PE patients with Factor V Leiden presented with hypoxaemia (Sat O(2) levels<90%) less likely than those with prothrombin G20210A (4.5% vs. 17%; p<0.001) or with no thrombophilia (4.5% vs. 20%; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most VTE episodes in women (not men) with factor V Leiden or prothrombin G20210A were associated with an acquired risk factor (mostly pregnancy or contraceptive use). Only 4.5% of patients with factor V Leiden presenting with acute PE had hypoxaemia.

Elevated white blood cell count and outcome in cancer patients with venous thromboembolism. Findings from the RIETE Registry.

A significant association between elevated white blood cell (WBC) count and mortality in patients with cancer has been reported, but the predictive value of elevated WBC on mortality in cancer patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been explored. RIETE is an ongoing registry of consecutive patients with acute VTE. We compared the three-month outcome of cancer patients with acute VTE according to their WBC count at baseline. As of May 2007, 3805 patients with active cancer and acute VTE had been enrolled in RIETE. Of them, 215 (5.7%) had low- (<4,000 cells/microl), 2,403 (63%) normal- (4,000-11,000 cells/microl), 1,187 (31%) elevated (>11,000 cells/microl) WBC count. During the study period 190 patients (5.0%) had recurrent VTE, 156 (4.1%) major bleeding, 889 (23%) died (399 of disseminated cancer, 113 of PE, 46 of bleeding. Patients with elevated WBC count at baseline had an increased incidence of recurrent VTE (odds ratio [OR]: 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-2.2), major bleeding (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1) or death (OR: 2.7; 95% CI: 2.3-3.2). Most of the reported causes of death were significantly more frequent in patients with elevated WBC count. Multivariate analysis confirmed that elevated WBC count was independently associated with an increased incidence of all three complications. In conclusion, cancer patients with acute VTE and elevated WBC count had an increased incidence of VTE recurrences, major bleeding or death. This worse outcome was consistent among all subgroups and persisted after multivariate adjustment.