Search

ABSTRACT: Background: In patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE), an unlikely or non-high probability assessment combined with a normal D-dimer test can safely exclude the diagnosis. We studied the influence of early D-dimer knowledge on clinical probability assessment. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 150 randomly selected pulmonologists and internists in the Netherlands, presenting six hypothetical case-descriptions of patients with suspected PE. Physicians were randomized to receive one of three versions. The version contained a normal, an abnormal or no D-dimer result with each case-description. Each version contained two cases with an abnormal D-dimer result, two cases with a normal D-dimer result and two cases with no D-dimer result. Results: A total of 71 physicians (47%) returned the questionnaire; the three versions were equally represented. Compared to the control cases in which no D-dimer was given, knowledge of an abnormal D-dimer resulted in more “likely” clinical scores using the Wells’ score (absolute increase in “likely” of 25-37%, p=0.005, 0.111 and 0.144), while knowledge of a normal D-dimer resulted in more “unlikely” scores (absolute increase in “unlikely” of 27-44%, p=0.001 and 0.070). D-dimer knowledge did not influence the probability assessment when the clinical suspicion was very high. Conclusion: Knowledge of the D-dimer test influences the physician in how the clinical probability for PE is scored. This will have direct clinical consequences, such as unnecessary imaging testing or inappropriate exclusion of the diagnosis. Physicians should therefore make sure that they examine the patient before they take notice of the D-dimer test result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the predictive performance of bleeding risk–estimation tools in a cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing anticoagulation. Background: Three bleeding risk–prediction schemes have been derived for and validated in patients with AF: HEMORR2HAGES (Hepatic or Renal Disease, Ethanol Abuse, Malignancy, Older Age, Reduced Platelet Count or Function, Re-Bleeding, Hypertension, Anemia, Genetic Factors, Excessive Fall Risk and Stroke), ATRIA (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation), and HAS-BLED (Hypertension, Abnormal Renal/Liver Function, Stroke, Bleeding History or Predisposition, Labile International Normalized Ratio, Elderly, Drugs/Alcohol). Τhe relative predictive values of these bleeding scores have not previously been compared. Methods: We analyzed the dataset from the AMADEUS (Evaluating the Use of SR34006 Compared to Warfarin or Acenocoumarol in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) trial, a multicenter, randomized, open-label noninferiority study that compared fixed-dose idraparinux with adjustable-dose oral vitamin K antagonist therapy in patients with AF. The principal safety outcome was any clinically relevant bleeding event, which was a composite of major bleeding plus clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding. Results: The HAS-BLED score performed best in predicting any clinically relevant bleeding, reflected both in net reclassification improvement (10.3% and 13% improvement compared with HEMORR2HAGES and ATRIA, respectively) and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analyses (c-indexes: 0.60 vs. 0.55 and 0.50 for HAS-BLED vs. HEMORR2AGES and ATRIA, respectively). Using decision-curve analysis, the HAS-BLED score demonstrated superior performance compared with ATRIA and HEMORR2HAGES at any threshold probability for clinically relevant bleeding. HAS-BLED was the only score that demonstrated a significant predictive performance for intracranial hemorrhage (c-index: 0.75; p = 0.03). An ATRIA score >3 was not significantly associated with the risk for any clinically relevant bleeding on Cox regression or on ROC analysis (c-index: 0.50; p = 0.87). Conclusions: All 3 tested bleeding risk–prediction scores demonstrated only modest performance in predicting any clinically relevant bleeding, although the HAS-BLED score performed better than the HEMORR2HAGES and ATRIA scores, as reflected by ROC analysis, reclassification analysis, and decision-curve analysis. Only HAS-BLED demonstrated a significant predictive performance for intracranial hemorrhage. Given its simplicity, the HAS-BLED score may be an attractive method for the estimation of oral anticoagulant–related bleeding risk for use in clinical practice, supporting recommendations in international guidelines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: The implementation of evidence from clinical studies into daily clinical practice is not a straightforward process. We developed a standardized questionnaire to explore clinical practice patterns in the management of VTE, in particular about the use of pre-clinical probability and D-dimer testing and on the home treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: The standardized questionnaire was sent to all 394 physician members of the Italian Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (SISET) by e-mail. The questionnaire contained three groups of questions: about general information, about the diagnostic process for both deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and PE, and about home-therapy of PE. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight (32.5%) physicians responded the questionnaire. For DVT diagnosis 69 (54.3%) physicians answered that they always use the D-dimer test; 4 (3.1%) do never use it; whereas only 11 (8.7%) take notice of the D-dimer result before visiting the patients; 38 (29.9%) use only clinical judgment to assess pre-clinical probability of disease. For the diagnosis of PE 80 (66.1%) physicians always use the D-dimer test, whereas 3 (2.5%) do never use it; whereas 14 (11.7%) take notice of the D-dimer result before visiting the patients; 50 (41.3%) use only clinical judgment to assess pre-clinical probability. Sixty-six (59.5%) clinicians declared to treat patients with PE at home, when feasible. Conclusion: The diagnostic approach to VTE among expert physicians appears to be heterogeneous; in particular there is no widespread use of clinical prediction rules. The majority of expert physicians appear to consider the possibility of treating at home patients with PE. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a life threatening but often, by pulmonary endarterectomy, curable disease. The incidence of CTEPH after an acute pulmonary embolism (PE) appears to be much higher than previously thought. Systematic follow-up of patients after PE might increase the number of diagnosed CTEPH patients. Aim: To study whether, compared to current clinical practice, a systematic search for CTEPH in patients after acute PE would increase the number of patients diagnosed with symptomatic, potentially treatable CTEPH. Methods: Consecutive patients with a prior diagnosis of acute PE were presented with a questionnaire, designed to establish the presence of either new or worsened dyspnea after the acute PE episode. If so, patients were evaluated for the presence of CTEPH. Results: PE patients (n=110; 56±18years) were included after a median follow-up of three years. Overall mortality was 34% (37 patients); 1 patient had died due to CTEPH. In total 62 out of 69 questionnaires were returned; 23 patients reported new or worsened dyspnea related to the PE episode, and qualified for additional testing. In 2 patients, CTEPH was already diagnosed prior to this study. None of the remaining patients met the criteria for the diagnosis of CTEPH. The overall incidence of 2.7% (3/110; 95%CI 0.6-7.8%) is in agreement with earlier reported incidences. Conclusion: Our findings do not point to a role for a systematic search and pro-active approach towards patients with a recent history of pulmonary embolism to increase the number of patients diagnosed with potentially treatable CTEPH. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]