Summary
Acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) represent two expressions of a similar clinical pathological process, often referred to as venous throm‐boembolism (VTE). It has ...long been recognized that, as clinical signs and symptoms of PE and DVT are not specific for the diagnosis, objective diagnosis in both patients presenting with leg symptoms and those with chest symptoms is mandatory. Since the last review on this subject in this journal in 2009, several large trials have been performed that shed new light on all aspects of the diagnostic management of suspected VTE, especially in the field of simplified clinical decision rules, age‐dependent D‐dimer cut‐offs and magnetic resonance imaging. A literature search covering the period 2007–2012 was performed using the Medline/PubMed database to identify all relevant papers regarding the diagnostic management of acute PE and DVT. Established concepts and the latest evidence on this subject will be the main focus of this review.
Abstract Long-term follow-up studies have consistently demonstrated that after an episode of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), half of patients report functional limitations and/or decreased quality of ...life up to many years after the acute event. Incomplete thrombus resolution occurs in one-fourth to one-third of patients. Further, pulmonary artery pressure and right ventricular function remain abnormal despite adequate anticoagulant treatment in 10–30% of patients, and 0.5–4% is diagnosed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) which represents the most severe long term complication of acute PE. From these numbers, it seems that CTEPH itself is the extreme manifestation of a much more common phenomenon of permanent changes in pulmonary artery flow, pulmonary gas exchange and/or cardiac function caused by the acute PE and associated with dyspnea and decreased exercise capacity, which in analogy to post-thrombotic syndrome after deep vein thrombosis could be referred to as the post-pulmonary embolism syndrome. The acknowledgement of this syndrome would both be relevant for daily clinical practice and also provide a concept that aids in further understanding of the pathophysiology of CTEPH. In this clinically oriented review, we discuss the established associations and hypotheses between the process of thrombus resolution or persistence, lasting hemodynamic changes following acute PE as well as the consequences of a PE diagnosis on long-term physical performance and quality of life.
We recently reported a high cumulative incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of three Dutch hospitals. In ...answering questions raised regarding our study, we updated our database and repeated all analyses.
We re-evaluated the incidence of the composite outcome of symptomatic acute pulmonary embolism (PE), deep-vein thrombosis, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction and/or systemic arterial embolism in all COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICUs of 2 Dutch university hospitals and 1 Dutch teaching hospital from ICU admission to death, ICU discharge or April 22nd 2020, whichever came first.
We studied the same 184 ICU patients as reported on previously, of whom a total of 41 died (22%) and 78 were discharged alive (43%). The median follow-up duration increased from 7 to 14 days. All patients received pharmacological thromboprophylaxis. The cumulative incidence of the composite outcome, adjusted for competing risk of death, was 49% (95% confidence interval CI 41–57%). The majority of thrombotic events were PE (65/75; 87%). In the competing risk model, chronic anticoagulation therapy at admission was associated with a lower risk of the composite outcome (Hazard Ratio HR 0.29, 95%CI 0.091–0.92). Patients diagnosed with thrombotic complications were at higher risk of all-cause death (HR 5.4; 95%CI 2.4–12). Use of therapeutic anticoagulation was not associated with all-cause death (HR 0.79, 95%CI 0.35–1.8).
In this updated analysis, we confirm the very high cumulative incidence of thrombotic complications in critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Summary
Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare but feared long‐term complication of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), although CTEPH may occur in patients with no history of ...symptomatic venous thromboembolism. It represents the most severe presentation of the so‐called ‘post‐PE syndrome’, a phenomenon of permanent functional limitations after PE caused by deconditioning after PE or ventilatory or circulatory impairment as a result of unresolved pulmonary artery thrombi. Because the post‐PE syndrome may occur in up to 50% of PE survivors, and CTEPH tends to have an insidious and non‐specific clinical presentation, CTEPH is often not diagnosed or diagnosed after a very long delay. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment of choice is pulmonary endarterectomy which effectively lowers the pulmonary vascular resistance and normalizes resting pulmonary artery pressures, leading to recovery of the right ventricle. When pulmonary endarterectomy is not technically feasible, balloon pulmonary angioplasty may be a potential acceptable alternative. Also, medical treatment may help to improve patient's symptoms and hemodynamics. Current studies are focusing on strategies for earlier CTEPH diagnosis after acute PE, as well as the most optimal treatment of inoperable patients. This review will focus on the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of CTEPH from the perspective of the PE patient.
COVID-19 may predispose to both venous and arterial thromboembolism due to excessive inflammation, hypoxia, immobilisation and diffuse intravascular coagulation. Reports on the incidence of ...thrombotic complications are however not available.
We evaluated the incidence of the composite outcome of symptomatic acute pulmonary embolism (PE), deep-vein thrombosis, ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction or systemic arterial embolism in all COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of 2 Dutch university hospitals and 1 Dutch teaching hospital.
We studied 184 ICU patients with proven COVID-19 pneumonia of whom 23 died (13%), 22 were discharged alive (12%) and 139 (76%) were still on the ICU on April 5th 2020. All patients received at least standard doses thromboprophylaxis. The cumulative incidence of the composite outcome was 31% (95%CI 20-41), of which CTPA and/or ultrasonography confirmed VTE in 27% (95%CI 17-37%) and arterial thrombotic events in 3.7% (95%CI 0-8.2%). PE was the most frequent thrombotic complication (n = 25, 81%). Age (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.05/per year, 95%CI 1.004-1.01) and coagulopathy, defined as spontaneous prolongation of the prothrombin time > 3 s or activated partial thromboplastin time > 5 s (aHR 4.1, 95%CI 1.9-9.1), were independent predictors of thrombotic complications.
The 31% incidence of thrombotic complications in ICU patients with COVID-19 infections is remarkably high. Our findings reinforce the recommendation to strictly apply pharmacological thrombosis prophylaxis in all COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU, and are strongly suggestive of increasing the prophylaxis towards high-prophylactic doses, even in the absence of randomized evidence.
COVID-19 infections are associated with a high prevalence of venous thromboembolism, particularly pulmonary embolism (PE). It is suggested that COVID-19 associated PE represents in situ ...immunothrombosis rather than venous thromboembolism, although the origin of thrombotic lesions in COVID-19 patients remains largely unknown.
In this study, we assessed the clinical and computed tomography (CT) characteristics of PE in 23 consecutive patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and compared these to those of 100 consecutive control patients diagnosed with acute PE before the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, RV/LV diameter ratio, pulmonary artery trunk diameter and total thrombus load (according to Qanadli score) were measured and compared.
We observed that all thrombotic lesions in COVID-19 patients were found to be in lung parenchyma affected by COVID-19. Also, the thrombus load was lower in COVID-19 patients (Qanadli score −8%, 95% confidence interval 95%CI −16 to −0.36%) as was the prevalence of the most proximal PE in the main/lobar pulmonary artery (17% versus 47%; −30%, 95%CI −44% to −8.2). Moreover, the mean RV/LV ratio (mean difference −0.23, 95%CI −0.39 to −0.07) and the prevalence of RV/LV ratio >1.0 (prevalence difference −23%, 95%CI −41 to −0.86%) were lower in the COVID-19 patients.
Our findings therefore suggest that the phenotype of COVID-19 associated PE indeed differs from PE in patients without COVID-19, fuelling the discussion on its pathophysiology.
•COVID-19 pneumonia is associated with high incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE).•The origin of COVID-19 associated PE is debated.•We compared radiological PE parameters in COVID-19 patients with control patients.•In COVID-19 patients, thrombus load and prevalence of RV dysfunction was lower.•Our findings support the concept of in situ immunothrombosis in COVID-19 patients
Summary
Introduction
New direct oral anticoagulants (NOACs) constitute a novel treatment option for acute venous thromboembolism (VTE), with practical advantages. Individual studies have demonstrated ...comparable efficacy to that of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and have suggested a more favorable safety profile . We performed a meta‐analysis to determine the efficacy and safety of NOACs as compared with those of VKAs in patients with acute VTE.
Methods
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Clinical Trials Registry up to October 2013. Eligible studies included phase 3 trials comparing NOACs with VKAs in patients with acute VTE. Relative risks (RRs), absolute risk differences and numbers needed to treat (NNTs) to prevent one event were calculated for recurrent VTE, fatal pulmonary embolism (PE), overall mortality, major bleeding, and other bleeding complications, with random‐effects models.
Results
Five studies were included, investigating four NOACs (rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban) in 24 455 patients with acute VTE. RRs for recurrent VTE, fatal PE and overall mortality for NOACs vs. VKAs were 0.88 (95% confidence interval CI 0.74–1.05), 1.02 (95% CI 0.39–5.96), and 0.97 (95% CI 0.83–1.14), respectively. The RR for major bleeding was 0.60 (95% CI 0.41–0.88). The NNT with NOACs instead of VKA to prevent one major bleed was 149. The RR and NNT for fatal bleeding were 0.36 (95% CI 0.15–0.87) and 1111. A fixed‐effect network analysis did not demonstrate significant differences between individual NOACs and rivaroxaban.
Conclusions
NOACs have comparable efficacy to that of VKAs, and are associated with a significantly lower risk of bleeding complications, although the NNT to prevent one major bleed was relatively high.
Essentials
Predicting chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after pulmonary embolism is hard.
We studied 772 patients with pulmonary embolism who were followed for CTEPH (incidence ...2.8%).
Logistic regression analysis revealed 7 easily collectable clinical variables that combined predict CTEPH.
Our score identifies patients at low (0.38%) or higher (10%) risk of CTEPH.
Summary
Introduction
Validated risk factors for the diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after acute pulmonary embolism (PE) are currently lacking.
Methods
This is a post hoc patient‐level analysis of three large prospective cohorts with a total of 772 consecutive patients with acute PE, without major cardiopulmonary or malignant comorbidities. All underwent echocardiography after a median of 1.5 years. In cases with signs of pulmonary hypertension, additional diagnostic tests to confirm CTEPH were performed. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics of the acute PE event were included in a multivariable regression analysis. Independent predictors were combined in a clinical prediction score.
Results
CTEPH was confirmed in 22 patients (2.8%) by right heart catheterization. Unprovoked PE, known hypothyroidism, symptom onset > 2 weeks before PE diagnosis, right ventricular dysfunction on computed tomography or echocardiography, known diabetes mellitus and thrombolytic therapy or embolectomy were independently associated with a CTEPH diagnosis during follow‐up. The area under the receiver operating charateristic curve (AUC) of the prediction score including those six variables was 0.89 (95% confidence interval CI 0.84–0.94). Sensitivity analysis and bootstrap internal validation confirmed this AUC. Seventy‐three per cent of patients were in the low‐risk category (CTEPH incidence of 0.38%, 95% CI 0–1.5%) and 27% were in the high‐risk category (CTEPH incidence of 10%, 95% CI 6.5–15%).
Conclusion
The ‘CTEPH prediction score’ allows for the identification of PE patients with a high risk of CTEPH diagnosis after PE. If externally validated, the score may guide targeting of CTEPH screening to at‐risk patients.
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