Myocardial Infarction and Deep-vein Thrombosis

In a study of 52 patients admitted into the coronary intensive care unit the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis was measured with the ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen test. Of these patients 31 were eventually confirmed to be suffering from acute myocardial infarction. This preliminary study showed that in patients with a confirmed infarct who were not treated with anticoagulants the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis was 38% and in those treated it was 5·5%. In patients who were “severely ill” from whatever the cause there was a high incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (68%).     

Factor V Leiden in patients with venous thrombosis in Slovak population

Resistance to activated protein C determined by factor V Leiden (FVL) is the most frequent inherited risk factor of venous thrombosis. The purpose of our work was to reveal the frequency of FVL in Slovak patients with venous thromboses, to characterise the nature of venous thromboses in this inherited thrombophilia, and to consider the screening approach to investigation of FVL in patients with venous thromboses. 350 patients with a diagnosis of venous thromboembolic disease from various regions of Slovakia were investigated. FVL, detected by polymerase chain reaction, was found in 128/350 (37%) patients with venous thromboses. 118/128 (92%) patients were heterozygous and 10/128 (8%) were homozygous carriers. In 108/128 (84%) patients with FVL the thromboembolic disease occurred spontaneously. Phlebothrombosis occurred predominantly in the lower limbs--117/128 (91%) patients, atypical localisations were rare. The first thromboembolic event was manifested before 40 years of age in 69% of patients. The family history was positive in 60/128 (47%) FVL carriers with thromboembolic disease. Recurrent thrombosis occurred in 30% of patients with FVL. In agreement with findings in other European countries, the prevalence of FVL was high in Slovak patients with thromboembolic disease. The investigation of FVL seems to be justified in patients before 40 years of age with venous thrombosis of lower limbs, in the absence of triggering factors and with a family history of venous thromboembolic disease.     

The role of the von Willebrand factor in renal diseases and haemodialysis patients

During a period of twenty years, the von Willebrand factor (VWf) biological activity was evaluated in 805 patients with vein thrombosis, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure and ischemic heart disease. The examined patients were 168 with vein thrombosis, 129 with diabetes mellitus, 412 with chronic renal failure (CRF), and 96 with ischemic heart disease. The biological activity was also determined in 104 haemodialysis patients using four different haemodialytic membranes: 30 on cuprophan membrane, 30 on polymethylmetacrylate membrane (PMMA), 24 on hemophane and 20 patients on polysulphone (PS) membrane. In 42 patients with arterio-venous fistula prone to thrombosis, the biological activity of the von Willebrand Factor was 178% in comparison to 106% in the control group. The biological activity of VWF was increased in patients with vein thrombosis (p < 0.02), in patients with diabetes mellitus (p < 0.01), CRF (p < 0.05), and in patients with ischemic heart disease (p < 0.01). The highest biological activity was found in patients on PMMA (p < 0.001), then cuprophan (p < 0.05) and hemophane membrane (p < 0.01), while the lowest increase of its concentration was noticed in patients on PS without statistical significance. In arteriovenous fistula prone to thrombosis patients biological activity of the von Willebrand Factor was significantly increased (p < 0.01). Our investigations show the importance of VWF as a marker of endothelial disfunction, a possible predictor of A-V fistula thrombosis, and a possible marker of haemodialysis membranes biocompatibility.     

Vascular thrombosis associated with antiphospholipide syndrome

The aim of this study was to present our diagnostic and therapeutic experience with antiphospholipide syndrome (APS) and vascular thrombosis. Ninety-nine patients with positive antiphospholipide antibodies (aPL) and vascular thrombosis were included in the study: forty patients, according to clinical classification criteria, had primary antiphospholipide syndrome (PAPS), and fifty-nine patients had secondary antiphospholipide syndrome (SAPS). In PAPS group, 82.5% of the patients were LA-positive, 37.5% of the patients were IgG aCL-positive, 27.5% of the patients were IgM aCL-positive, and 15% of the patients were IgG antibeta2GPI-positive. In SAPS group, 61% of the patients were LA-positive, 50.8% of the patients were IgG aCL-positive, and 47.5% of the patients were IgM aCL-positive. Administered therapy was low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) throughout 7 days, followed by warfarin with prothrombin time maintained between 2.0 and 3.0 INR.     

Antithrombotic therapy in patients with known risk factors for thromboembolism

In about 50% of the cases of spontaneous deep vein thrombosis a congenital deficiency of an inhibitor of coagulation or an insufficient fibrinolytic mechanism can be detected. In arterial thromboembolism a connection with hyperactive platelets or with a diminished availability of tissue plasminogen activator can be found in about 70%. However, in these cases the defect which provokes thrombosis is mostly acquired and is connected with hyperlipidemia and/or with atherosclerotic alterations of the vessel wall. A study on patients with thromboembolic tendency and detectable risk factors was carried out. A total of 470 patients could be observed for 2 years under an adequate antithrombotic prophylaxis. The occurrence of thromboembolic episodes 2 years prior to prophylaxis and 2 years under prophylaxis was compared. In venous cases thrombosis could be controlled almost completely by coumarins when the underlying cause was a deficient plasmatic inhibitor. In patients with diminished fibrinolysis there was only a partial effect of oral anticoagulants. A better result could be obtained when pentosan polysulfate was administered. In arterial thromboembolism the results of prophylaxis were less convincing. The efficacy of ASA in patients with an increased platelet function was only moderate. In addition, ASA hat to be discontinued in about 20% of the patients because of gastrointestinal problems. Pentosan polysulfate in patients with a diminished fibrinolytic capacity had a fairly good effect and resulted in a 60% reduction of thromboembolic manifestations. It is shown that an exact diagnosis of the underlying deficiency which is likely to cause thrombosis can also improve the efficacy and the specificity of prophylaxis.     

Stent thrombosis in real-world patients: a comparison of drug-eluting with bare metal stents

BackgroundAlthough the introduction of drugeluting stents (DES) has been associated with an impressive reduction in target vessel revascularisation, there has been concern about the safety profile. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of stent thrombosis in real-world patients and evaluate the contribution of drug-eluting stents. Methods A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a high-volume centre in Utrecht, the Netherlands. All patients who underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 1 January and 31 December 2005 were evaluated. The patients were pretreated with aspirin and clopidogrel, which was continued for six months in bare metal stents (BMS) and 12 months in DES. ResultsIn 2005, 1309 patients underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention procedure with stent implantation. After a median follow-up of nine months, 1.8% (n=23) of the patients had suffered from stent thrombosis. Two cases could be attributed to incorrect use of antiplatelet agents. In 8/23 cases, a technical reason was found such as an unrecognised dissection or stent underexpansion. The timing of stent thrombosis was acute in 1/23 patients, subacute in 20/23 patients and late in 2/23 patients. In both cases of late stent thrombosis, a BMS had been used. There were no differences in stent thrombosis rates between DES and BMS (1.4 vs. 1.9%, ns.). This is remarkable since DES were used in more complex and longer lesions. ConclusionThe use of DES in routine daily practice does not appear to be associated with a higher rate of stent thrombosis than BMS. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:382-6).     

Certain aspects of acute arterial thrombosis]

An analysis included 228 patients with the acute arterial thrombosis in the extremities. Over 33% of patients reported to the treatment later than 24 hours after the onset. This delay markedly worsened the results of therapy. Sixty two percent of limbs was saved. Mortality rate was 15%. The author analyse the results of therapy in relation to the localization of thrombi and type of the treatment--surgical, use of vasodilators with heparin or streptokinase. In case of thrombosis localized in the end segment of aorta the results were less promising than in case of more peripheral arterial involvement. Excellent and favourable results in this group amounted to 32%, the limb was amputated in 13% of patients and 28% of patients died. Hundred eighty patients were operated. Arteriosclerotic lesions to the arterial wall were detected in 97%. Excellent and favourable results of surgery were achieved in 45%, amputations amounted to 22%, and mortality rate was 16%. Vasodilators combined with heparin produced an improvement in 13% of patients in whom surgery could be postponed. The best results were achieved in patients treated with fibrinolytic agents with subsequent surgery or without it. In this group excellent and favourable results amounted to 57%, amputations--24%, and mortality rate--8%.     

高龄患者下肢深静脉血栓超声诊断的Logistic回归分析

目的：应用Logistic回归筛选高龄患者下肢深静脉血栓灰阶及彩色多普勒超声诊断特征。方法：对我院150例主动要求下肢深静脉血栓灰阶及彩色多普勒超声检查的高龄患者,应用超声检查观察血管管径、管腔内回声及血流动力学等特征,进行Logistic回归分析,筛选超声诊断特征,对Logistic回归模型预测诊断绘制受试者工作曲线图（ROC）,评估模型效果。结果：150例超声检查高龄患者,发生下肢深静脉栓塞129例,占86.00%。Logistic回归筛选,血管管径、管腔内回声、管壁内壁、血流信号改变4个变量进入回归模型,Logistic回归模型预测超声检出的ROC曲线下面积为0.903,灵敏度为90.3%,特异度为93.8%。结论：以高龄患者下肢深静脉血栓超声特征建立的Logistic回归模型对该病具有较好的预测诊断价值。     

对比分析多种介入途径治疗门静脉系统血栓的临床疗效

目的：对比分析多种介入途径治疗门静脉系统血栓的临床疗效。方法：收集从2001年1月至2009年3月经我科治疗的37例门静脉系统（包括门静脉、肠系膜上、下静脉及脾静脉）血栓形成患者,根据介入治疗途径的不同分为三组：A组（13例）行经TIPS途径门静脉行碎栓溶栓及置管溶栓术;B组（19例）行直接经皮穿肝门静脉碎栓和或置管溶栓术;C组（5例）行经肠系膜上动脉置管溶栓治疗。所有的患者术后定期随访1—12个月,复查CT或彩超了解门静脉系统的血流变化及临床症状恢复情况。结果：A组：经治疗出院时11例（85％）患者门静脉完全再通,;1例（8％）门静脉血流部分再通,1例（8％）术后第二天因出血死亡。术后随访1、3、6、12月门静脉通畅率分别为：85％,77％,77％,62％;所有患者的临床症状均明显缓解。B组：经治疗出院时7例（37％）门静脉完全再通,9例（47％）部分再通,3例（16％）因出血中止溶栓;随访1、3、6月、12月门静脉通畅率分别为：32％,26％,16％,16％。C组：经治疗出院时5例（100％）患者门静脉均未再通,通畅率为0％,术后随访1-3个月内4例患者I临床症状得到部分缓解。结论：经TIPS途径治疗后门静脉的再通率及临床症状改善均好于直接经皮穿肝及经肠系膜上动脉途径。经肠系膜上动脉置管溶栓法无法使已有侧支形成的门静脉主干复通,仅能一定程度缓解患者的临床症状。     

抗t-PA抗体水平和血栓的相关性研究

目的:研究自身免疫性疾病病人抗t-PA抗体水平和病人血栓形成之间的关系。方法:用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测原发性抗磷脂综合症和红斑狼疮患者(32例狼疮样抗凝物阳性,32例狼疮样抗凝物阴性)与40例健康对照的IgG类抗t-pA抗体的水平,用Pearson Chi-Square test的方法分析了病人体内IgG类抗t-PA抗体水平和血栓之间的相关性。结果:本试验研究的病人群体中IgG类抗t-PA抗体阳性的有13(20.3%)个,并且我们的研究表明IgG类抗t-PA抗体阳性和血栓病史显著相关(P=0.04)。结论:原发性抗磷脂综合症和红斑狼疮病人群体中有较高的IgG类抗t-PA抗体水平,它们可能和病人体内血栓的发生有关。     

Stent Thrombosis is the Primary Cause of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction following Coronary Stent Implantation: A Five Year Follow-Up of the SORT OUT II Study

Background

The widespread use of coronary stents has exposed a growing population to the risk of stent thrombosis, but the importance in terms of risk of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions (STEMIs) remains unclear.

Methods

We studied five years follow-up data for 2,098 all-comer patients treated with coronary stents in the randomized SORT OUT II trial (mean age 63.6 yrs. 74.8% men). Patients who following stent implantation were readmitted with STEMI were included and each patient was categorized ranging from definite- to ruled-out stent thrombosis according to the Academic Research Consortium definitions. Multivariate logistic regression was performed on selected covariates to assess odds ratios (ORs) for definite stent thrombosis.

Results

85 patients (4.1%), mean age 62.7 years, 77.1% men, were admitted with a total of 96 STEMIs, of whom 60 (62.5%) had definite stent thrombosis. Notably, definite stent thrombosis was more frequent in female than male STEMI patients (81.8% vs. 56.8%, p = 0.09), and in very late STEMIs (p = 0.06). Female sex (OR 3.53 [1.01–12.59]) and clopidogrel (OR 4.43 [1.03–19.01]) was associated with increased for definite stent thrombosis, whereas age, time since stent implantation, use of statins, initial PCI urgency (STEMI [primary PCI], NSTEMI/unstable angina [subacute PCI] or stable angina [elective PCI]), and glucose-lowering agents did not seem to influence risk of stent thrombosis.

Conclusion

In a contemporary cohort of coronary stented patients, stent thrombosis was evident in more than 60% of subsequent STEMIs.     

Investigation of Relation between Use of Oral Contraceptives and Thromboembolic Disease. A Further Report

The results of a previous study of the use of oral contraceptives by married women discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of thromboembolic disease in the years 1964–6 were reported by us last year. The present paper adds results relating to patients discharged during 1967 and a few data, that could not be sought previously, for patients discharged with cerebral or coronary thrombosis from three of the hospitals in the earlier period.Of 84 patients with deep-vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism 42 (50%) had used oral contraceptives during the month preceding the onset of their illness, while only 23 of the 168 controls (14%) had done so. No differences in risk were found either for the types of preparation or for the duration of use. After allowance for age and height, the patients with venous thromboembolism were about 10 lb. (4,535 g.) heavier than the control patients, irrespective of whether they were using oral contraceptives or not. No appreciable difference was found between the smoking habits of patients with and without venous thromboembolism treated during 1967, nor between women who were using oral contraceptives and those who were not. The trend in hospital admissions for venous thromboembolism with time corresponded to the trend in the use of oral contraceptives, and there was no evidence to suggest that the number of admissions was affected by publicity about the risk of using the preparations. Of 19 patients with cerebral thrombosis 11 (58%) had been using oral contraceptives, compared with an expected figure of 3.5 from the experience of the control subjects. All the published data (clinical, angiographic, and post-mortem) show that the thrombosis affects the cerebral arteries rather than the cerebral veins. Of 17 patients with coronary thrombosis 2 (12%) had been using oral contraceptives, compared with an expected figure of 2.1. The patients with coronary thrombosis smoked more than the control patients and were, on average, 8.3 lb. (3,765 g.) heavier than control women of the same age and height.The new evidence strengthens the belief that oral contraceptives are a cause of venous thromboembolism and cerebral thrombosis but does not indicate that they are a cause of coronary thrombosis.     

Prevention of deep vein thrombosis after hip replacement: randomised comparison between unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparin.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two subcutaneous prophylactic regimens for postoperative deep vein thrombosis after total hip replacement. DESIGN--Prospective open randomised multicentre trial. SETTING--28 European departments of orthopaedic surgery. INTERVENTION--All patients had bilateral phlebography 10 days after surgery. 31 patients receiving low molecular weight heparin and 29 receiving unfractionated heparin were excluded from the efficacy analysis for various reasons. PATIENTS--349 patients undergoing total hip replacement between September 1988 and May 1989. 174 patients received subcutaneously a low molecular weight heparin (Fraxiparine) with anti-factor Xa activity of 41 IU/kg/day for three days, then 62 IU/kg/day from day 4 to day 10. 175 patients received subcutaneous unfractionated heparin at intervals of eight hours; doses were adjusted to maintain the activated thromboplastin time at two to five seconds above control values. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Total incidence of deep vein thrombosis and incidence of proximal deep vein thrombosis on bilateral phlebography. RESULTS--The total incidence of deep vein thrombosis was 16% in patients receiving unfractionated heparin and 12.6% in patients receiving low molecular weight heparin (p = 0.45), and the incidence of thrombosis of the proximal veins was 13.1% and 2.9% respectively (p less than 0.001). Four patients receiving unfractionated heparin and one receiving low molecular weight heparin developed pulmonary embolism. The incidence of bleeding complications was low and comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSION--Low molecular weight heparin is at least as effective as unfractionated heparin in preventing deep vein thrombosis and is more effective at preventing thrombosis of the proximal veins in patients undergoing hip replacement. Low molecular weight heparin is not more likely to cause bleeding complications and is simpler to give than unfractionated heparin.     

Stent thrombosis in patients treated with thienopyridines: clinical description of 10 cases

Subacute stent thrombosis (SAST) is a major thrombotic complication of coronary stenting. Its occurrence has been substantially reduced by thienopyridine treatment. However, information on clinical profile of patients with SAST in clopidogrel era is limited. In order to define the incidence and factors predisposing to stent thrombosis, we analyzed the computerized angiographic database of three interventional cardiology centers. Out of a total number of 5903 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) with stent implantation, we found 10 patients with SAST (0.17%). The indication for PCI was usually an early invasive approach (90%) during an acute coronary syndrome. All patients were treated with an apparently optimal antithrombotic regimen (90% received heparin or LMWH and 70% received IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors and all given aspirin). In each of the patients, we could identify high-risk angiographic findings. SAST presentation was always clinically significant with definite myocardial infarction in 100% of cases. 80% of cases occurred during the first six days post PCI. Two patients had a recurrent event. Finally, despite earlier reports of atorvastatin-mediated inhibition of clopidogrel activation we did not find any patient with SAST taking both drugs. Thus, patients with stent thrombosis during thienopyridine treatment usually exhibit high-risk angiographic features. Prospective studies should be performed to elucidate drug interactions that may reduce clopidogrel efficacy and contribute to stent thrombosis.     

Portal vein thrombosis and high factor VIII in Turner syndrome

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Turner syndrome is not usually associated with thrombotic events. The aim of this study is to report 3 Turner syndrome patients with portal vein thrombosis and, in 2 of them, high factor VIII. These findings are compared to values in Turner syndrome patients without thrombosis and controls. METHODS: In different years, 3 patients with Turner syndrome were initially seen at the Gastroenterology Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil, for portal vein thrombosis. After the most common causes of portal vein thrombosis and thrombophilias had been excluded, the 2 surviving patients were studied for clotting factors VIII, IX and von Willebrand factor. The same factors were also assessed in 25 Turner syndrome patients without thrombosis and 25 normal girls. RESULTS: One of the patients with portal vein thrombosis died before the study. In the 2 surviving patients, factors VIII and von Willebrand levels were >150 IU/dl, which is considered to be high. In Turner syndrome patients without thrombosis, the mean factor VIII level was 127.2 +/- 41.1 IU/dl and for von Willebrand factor 101.2 +/- 26.9 IU/dl, while in control girls these were 116.0 +/- 27.6 and 94.28 +/- 27.5 IU/dl, respectively. Factor VIII and von Willebrand factor were not different between these 2 groups. When non-O blood group Turner syndrome patients and normal girls were compared, the former had significantly higher levels of factor VIII. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report on the unusual finding of portal thrombosis in patients with Turner syndrome in whom high levels of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor were found. Factor VIII is higher in the non-O blood group Turner syndrome patients without thrombosis when compared to normal girls.     

Prevention of Early Postoperative Deep Vein Thrombosis by Passive Exercise of Leg during Surgery

A clinical trial assessed the effect of passive exercise of the lower limb during surgery on the incidence of early postoperative deep vein thrombosis. Thrombosis was diagnosed by means of the ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen uptake test. Passive exercise of the lower limb during the operation was achieved by using a motorized foot mover designed for use on supine subjects, and by pedalling only one leg each patient acted as his own control.In a sequential statistical analysis, 47 patients were required to reach the 5% level of significance. Thrombosis was detected in 11 control (unpedalled) legs alone, and in only one pedalled leg alone. Two patients developed thrombosis bilaterally. The investigation shows that the incidence of early thrombosis in legs which were exercised during surgery was reduced by 77%.     

Hypofibrinolysis and thrombophilia

The fibrinolytic capacity was assessed in 18 healthy subjects and in 8 patients each with non-idiopathic venous thrombosis, idiopathic venous thrombosis and myocardial infarction after intravenous administration of 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) (0.4 microgram/kg) in comparison to venous occlusion. In healthy subjects the results obtained by either stimulus were approximately in agreement. Compared to the control group, in patients with non-idiopathic venous thrombosis the fibrinolytic capacity was not changed either after venous occlusion or after administration of DDAVP. In 5 out of 8 patients with idiopathic venous thrombosis the capacity was significantly reduced both after venous occlusion and after administration of DDAVP. In 4 out of 8 patients with myocardial infarction the capacity was significantly below the limit after administration of DDAVP while it was not after venous occlusion. In determining the fibrinolytic capacity DDAVP proved to be superior to venous occlusion.     

Diagnostic Accuracy in Venous Thrombosis

A group of 111 surgical patients at high risk of venous thrombosis were studied after operation by independent clinical assessment and with ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen to detect venous thrombosis. Almost half of the patients developed venous thrombosis. Of these, two-thirds were not suspected clinically despite careful scrutiny. In the patients in whom a clinical diagnosis of venous thrombosis was made this diagnosis was falsely positive in a quarter. More than half of all thrombotic episodes were detectable on the day after operation.The prevalence of venous thrombosis, together with the difficulty in diagnosing it, strongly supports the argument that a reduction in the incidence of pulmonary embolism must depend on widespread adoption of effective prophylaxis, especially in the large number of patients at high risk of venous thrombosis. Prophylactic trials must be objectively assessed, and it is in this field that the ¹²⁵I-fibrinogen technique probably has the most to offer.     

Prevention of postoperative deep vein thrombosis with dipyridamole and aspirin.

One hundred and sixty patients have been studied in a controlled trial of two drugs which have been in combination to prevent postoperative-deep-vein thrombosis. Both the drugs, dipyridamole (Persantin) and aspirin, were given by mouth from the evening before operation and for seven days after operation. The radioactive fibrinogen test was used to diagnose thrombosis. Of the 85 patients in the control group 24 developed thrombosis (28%). Twelve out of 85 patients (14%) in the test group were found to have thrombosis. Similar significant differences in incidence were found in the various subgroups.     

香豆乙酯与华法林预防髋膝关节手术后下肢深静脉血栓形成的效果比较

目的:比较香豆乙酯与华法林预防髋膝关节手术后下肢深静脉血栓形成的疗效。方法:选取我院行髋膝关节手术患者38例,随机分为实验组和对照组,每组19例。对照组给予低分子量肝素及香豆乙酯片治疗;实验组给予低分子量肝素及华法林治疗。观察并比较两组患者的临床效果、下肢深静脉血栓的发生率及不良反应的发生情况。结果:实验组总有效率(94.7%)高于对照组(68.4%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组患者下肢深静脉血栓发生率(5.3%)低于对照组(21.1%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);实验组不良反应发生率(15.8%)低于对照组(42.1%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:与双香豆乙酯相比,华法林预防髋膝关节手术患者下肢深静脉血栓形成的效果更显著,且并发症较少。