Journal of thrombosis and thrombolysis
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Aug 2005
Low-molecular-weight-heparins as periprocedural anticoagulation for patients on long-term warfarin therapy: a standardized bridging therapy protocol.
Over 2 million patients in North America are on warfarin anticoagulation therapy for prevention of thromboembolism. Suspension of warfarin therapy is often required to prepare patients for invasive procedures or surgeries. To protect these patients against thromboembolism while they are off warfarin, shorter-acting parenteral agents such as low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are often used. We conducted a retrospective observational study of our anticoagulation clinic patients to assess the safety and efficacy of LMWHs using a standardized protocol for periprocedural anticoagulation therapy. ⋯ LMWH administration using our standard outpatient bridging protocol for perioperative anticoagulation appears to be relatively safe and efficacious, offering an alternative to inpatient administration of intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH). Our study provides additional evidence to the limited published observational data regarding the safety and efficacy of LMWH as bridging therapy in the perioperative and periprocedural setting. Large, multicenter, randomized controlled trials are necessary to fully assess the safety and efficacy of LMWH for perioperative anticoagulation.We conducted a retrospective observational study of 69 consecutive anticoagulation clinic patients on warfarin between August 2001 and August 2002, who were undergoing a procedure or surgery. The study was done to assess the safety and efficacy of an outpatient LMWH bridging protocol. Sixty-six patients received enoxaparin and three patients received tinzaparin for a mean duration of 3 days preoperatively and 7.7 days postoperatively. Outcomes were assessed for 30 days post-procedure. Safety outcomes included major bleeding and minor bleeding. Efficacy outcomes included thromboembolic event or death. There were two major bleeding events, one minor bleeding event, and no cases of thromboembolism. Twelve patients experienced some bruising around the injection site.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jun 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialMini-dose pump-prime aprotinin inhibited enhanced fibrinolytic activity and reduced blood loss and transfusion requirements after coronary artery bypass surgery.
Low-dose aprotinin in the pump during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been shown to improve postoperative hemostasis and platelet preservation. This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of mini-dose pump prime only aprotinin (70 mg) on the hemostatic parameters and blood transfusion requirements in patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). ⋯ Mini dose pump-prime aprotinin reduces postoperative blood loss, transfusion requirements and yet confers hemostatic improvement through reduced fibrinolysis in patients undergoing routine coronary artery bypass grafting.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jun 2005
Clinical TrialTransitioning from argatroban to warfarin in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: an analysis of outcomes in patients with elevated international normalized ratio (INR).
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) can lead to catastrophic thromboembolic complications and requires treatment with an alternative, rapidly active anticoagulant, such as a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), either to prevent or treat these complications. Switching to oral warfarin after initial treatment with a DTI is necessary in most patients. Most references related to warfarin suggest that an increased risk for bleeding will occur with elevated international normalized ratios (INRs) > 4.6. In patients receiving argatroban, it is not uncommon to achieve an INR > 4 during this transition. Because the clinical outcomes in patients achieving an INR > 4 during combined argatroban/warfarin therapies for HIT are not well described, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of 111 patients with this phenomenon. ⋯ In patients receiving argatroban/warfarin cotherapy and with an elevated INR > 4, the risk for thrombosis exceeds the risk of bleeding. Traditional paradigms concerning elevated INRs and warfarin may need to be redesigned for the patient population on cotherapy with direct thrombin inhibitors.Abbreviated Abstract. The clinical outcomes of 111 patients with INRs > 4 while on combined argatroban (dose < or = 2 mcg/kg/min) and warfarin were evaluated. Adverse clinical outcomes (7 new thrombosis, 3 amputations, 12 deaths and 1 major bleed) occurred in 21 patients. Eleven deaths were due to causes other than thrombosis. Five patients developed new thrombosis while only 1 had major bleeding. The risk for thrombosis exceeds the risk of bleeding in patients with HIT despite an INR > 4.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Jun 2005
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialThe role of gender and other factors as predictors of not receiving reperfusion therapy and of outcome in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
The standard of care for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is prompt coronary reperfusion with thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention. Women have higher mortality rates than men following STEMI and fewer women are considered eligible for reperfusion therapy. We analyzed the impact of gender, and other factors, on the outcome and treatment of STEMI in the TETAMI trial and registry. ⋯ Female gender was not an independent predictor of outcome or underutilization of reperfusion therapy. Factors more common in female STEMI patients (advanced age and delayed presentation) were associated with not receiving reperfusion therapy and adverse outcome. Increased awareness is needed to reduce delayed presentation after symptom onset, especially among women. Abbreviated abstract. In this analysis of 2741 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients in the TETAMI trial and registry, a trend was observed for women being less likely to receive reperfusion therapy and more likely to have an adverse outcome than men. This was related to factors more common in female patients (advanced age and delayed presentation), and showed that an increased awareness is needed to reduce delayed presentation after symptom onset, especially among women.
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J. Thromb. Thrombolysis · Feb 2005
Predictors of revascularization among emergency department patients who are evaluated for acute coronary syndrome.
To determine, among patients who present to the emergency department with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), predictors of short-term revascularization. ⋯ In a single site study, among emergency department patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS, ST elevation on initial ECG and an elevation in troponin I, CK-MB, and myoglobin upon presentation all predicted short -term revascularization. Among the three biomarkers, elevation in troponin I was the strongest predictor. ABBREVIATED ABSTRACT: We conducted a prospective descriptive trial to identify predictors of short-term revascularization among 341 emergency department patients who presented with symptoms suggestive of ACS. Fourteen percent of the study population received revascularization. Predictors of revascularization included ST elevation on initial ECG (odds ratio 12.0.), and an elevation in troponin I (odds ratio 8.9), CKMB (odds ratio 6.8), or myoglobin (odds ratio 4.7) on admission. When all three biomarkers competed in the same model, troponin I appeared to be the strongest predictor of short-term revascularization.