Thrombosis research
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Thrombosis research · Dec 2020
Meta AnalysisVenous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) may complicate the course of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). ⋯ VTE represents a frequent complication in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and often occurs as PE. The threshold for clinical suspicion should be low to trigger prompt diagnostic testing.
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Thrombosis research · Dec 2020
ReviewLemierre syndrome: Current evidence and rationale of the Bacteria-Associated Thrombosis, Thrombophlebitis and LEmierre syndrome (BATTLE) registry.
Lemierre syndrome is a rare but potentially fatal condition characterized by septic thrombophlebitis of the head and neck district, preferentially affecting adolescents and young adults and manifesting as a complication of a local bacterial infection - typically, a pharyngotonsillitis or an abscess. It is historically associated with the Gram-negative anaerobic rod Fusobacterium necrophorum and with thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. ⋯ There are no specific guidelines on its management other than usual antibiotic stewardship, with ongoing debate on the potential role of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. We provide an overview of current evidence on the definition, epidemiology, clinical presentation, prognosis and management of this condition and present the background and rationale of the Bacteria-Associated Thrombosis/Thrombophlebitis and LEmierre syndrome (BATTLE) registry: an ambispective, disease-specific, non-population based, multicentre clinical registry of global reach and multidisciplinary scope, specifically designed to address the limitations of current evidence and to provide patients and physicians with clinically viable information to guide management and improve the outcomes of those affected by these conditions.
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A striking feature of COVID-19 is the high frequency of thrombosis, particularly in patients who require admission to intensive care unit because of respiratory complications (pneumonia/adult respiratory distress syndrome). The spectrum of thrombotic events is wide, including in situ pulmonary thrombosis, deep-vein thrombosis and associated pulmonary embolism, as well as arterial thrombotic events (stroke, myocardial infarction, limb artery thrombosis). Unusual thrombotic events have also been reported, e.g., cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, mesenteric artery and vein thrombosis. ⋯ Progression to overt disseminated intravascular coagulation in fatal COVID-19 has been reported in some studies, but not observed in others. We compare and contrast COVID-19 hypercoagulability, and associated increased risk of venous and arterial thrombosis, from the perspective of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), including the dilemma of providing thromboprophylaxis and treatment recommendations when available data are limited to observational studies. The frequent use of heparin-both low-molecular-weight and unfractionated-in preventing and treating COVID-19 thrombosis, means that vigilance for HIT occurrence is required in this patient population.