fondaparinux and Gastrointestinal-Hemorrhage

A large number of patients worldwide receive anticoagulant and antiplatelet agents, collectively known as antithrombotic agents. Several new anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents recently were approved for use. Gastroenterologists may be unfamiliar with the mechanism of action, indications for use, and pharmacokinetics of these newer drugs. In patients undergoing elective and urgent endoscopic procedures, clinicians must be familiar with these medications to optimize outcomes. When the decision is made to continue the newer antithrombotic agents for elective procedures, the clinician must understand the risk that these agents may impart on procedural-induced bleeding. Finally, it is important to understand how to manage these agents in the presence of acute gastrointestinal bleeding. In this article the use of newer antithrombotic agents is reviewed.

Topics: Anticoagulants; Benzimidazoles; beta-Alanine; Blood Coagulation Factors; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; Clopidogrel; Dabigatran; Drug Interactions; Fondaparinux; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Piperazines; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Polysaccharides; Prasugrel Hydrochloride; Proton Pump Inhibitors; Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists; Thiophenes; Ticlopidine

Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a frequent complication of cirrhosis. Benefit, safety, and duration of anticoagulant treatment in this setting are controversial issues. The aim of this study was to analyze the course of PVT in a large cohort of cirrhotic patients undergoing or not anticoagulation therapy.. The data of 182 patients who presented between January 2008 and March 2016 with cirrhosis and PVT with at least 3 months of follow-up after the first PVT detection were analyzed. Eighty-one patients received anticoagulants and 101 were untreated per physician discretion.. The extension of the thrombosis decreased by >50% in 46 (56.8%, with complete recanalization in 31/46) patients under anticoagulation and in 26 (25.7%) untreated patients. Of the 46 patients who underwent recanalization, 17 (36%) suffered recurrent thrombosis after stopping anticoagulation therapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a higher survival rate in the treated group (p = 0.010). At multivariate analysis, anticoagulation was an independent factor associated with longer survival (HR:0.30, CI:0.10-0.91, p = 0.014). The Child-Turcotte-Pugh classes B/C negatively influenced survival (hazard ratio, (HR):3.09, confidence interval (CI):1.14-8.36, p = 0.027 for Child-Turcotte-Pugh B and HR:9.27, CI:2.67-32.23, p < 0.001 for Child-Turcotte-Pugh C). Bleeding complications occurred in 22 (21.8%) untreated and 16 (19.7%) treated patients, but in only four cases was it judged to be related to the anticoagulant treatment. No death was reported as a consequence of the bleeding events.. Anticoagulant treatment is a safe and effective treatment leading to partial or complete recanalization of the portal venous system in 56.8% of cases, improving the survival of patients with cirrhosis and PVT. Discontinuation of the therapy is associated with a high rate of PVT recurrence.

Topics: Aged; Anticoagulants; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Female; Fondaparinux; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Hemorrhage; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Humans; Hypertension, Portal; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Portal Vein; Venous Thrombosis

Essentials Spontaneous HIT syndrome clinically/serologically resembles HIT but without proximate heparin. Rarely, spontaneous HIT syndrome complicates total knee arthroplasty surgery. Mesenteric vein thrombosis is a rare presentation of spontaneous HIT syndrome. IVIg rapidly corrects thrombocytopenia by inhibiting heparin-independent platelet activation. SUMMARY: Spontaneous heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) syndrome is an autoimmune HIT (aHIT) disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, thrombosis, and HIT antibodies despite no proximate heparin exposure. For unknown reasons, many cases occur after total knee arthroplasty. A 52-year-old woman presented 12 days posttotal knee replacement (aspirin thromboprophylaxis) with gastrointestinal bleeding (superior mesenteric vein thrombosis); the platelet count was 63 × 10

Topics: Anticoagulants; Arginine; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Female; Fondaparinux; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Heparin; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Middle Aged; Pipecolic Acids; Platelet Activation; Platelet Count; Serotonin; Sulfonamides; Thrombocytopenia; Thrombosis; Venous Thromboembolism

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) especially during hospitalization. We assessed the safety and predictors of VTE prophylaxis in this population.. We conducted a retrospective study of 974 IBD admissions between February 2010 and May 2012. We abstracted data on clinical characteristics, VTE prophylaxis and bleeding events, and conducted multivariate analysis to determine predictors of prophylaxis.. Pharmacological VTE prophylaxis was administered to 80% of admissions; 63% were within 24h of admission. Patients on the surgical service (adjusted OR [aOR], 3.82; 95% CI: 2.00-7.29) and general medicine (aOR, 2.40; 95% CI: 1.39-4.12) were more likely to receive VTE prophylaxis compared to those on the gastroenterology service. Rectal bleeding on admission was associated with lower prophylaxis (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.35-0.97). The VTE prophylaxis rate increased from 47% to 73% (P<0.001) on non-surgical services with the introduction of a pharmacist advocate. The rates of major and minor bleeding were similar between patients who did and did not receive VTE prophylaxis (0.26 vs. 0 per 1000 person-days, P=0.7; 4.18 vs. 2.53 per 1000 person-days, P=0.4 respectively), and the major bleeding events (n=2) were post-operative. VTE prophylaxis was not associated with major postoperative bleeding (0.4% vs. 0%, P=0.96).. VTE prophylaxis was more frequent on the surgical service, where standardized protocols exist. The introduction of a pharmacist advocate greatly increased VTE prophylaxis on the non-surgical services. Prophylactic anticoagulation is safe in IBD despite the presence of rectal bleeding on admission.

Topics: Adult; Anticoagulants; Contraindications; Female; Fondaparinux; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Hospital Departments; Hospitalization; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Pharmacy Service, Hospital; Polysaccharides; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Rectum; Retrospective Studies; Venous Thromboembolism; Warfarin; Young Adult