Pick a Topic:
Find info on a:
ClotCare complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
ClotCare is a member organization of the Coalition to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis. Click here to learn more about the Coalition to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and DVT Awareness Month, which is held each March.
|
d-Dimer Found Useful in Decision to Continue Anticoagulation Following First Idiopathic VTE
Henry I. Bussey, Pharm.D., FCCP, FAHA
December, 2006
Reference: Palareti G, et al. d-Dimer testing to determine the duration of anticoagulation therapy. N Engl J Med 2006; 355:1780-1789.
Patients with an abnormal d-Dimer at one month after completing at least 3 months of anticoagulation for an initial idiopathic VTE were significantly less likely to have a recurrent VTE if their anticoagulation was resumed. Patients without an abnormal d-Dimer did not have their anticoagulation resumed, and their recurrent VTE also was relatively low. Previous studies have found that an elevated d-Dimer at discontinuation of anticoagulation is associated with approximately a two fold increase in the rate of recurrent VTEs, but this is the first study, to my knowledge, that has examined the benefit of resuming anticoagulation in such patients. It should be noted that patients with antiphospholipid antibody and antithrombin deficiency were excluded from this trial. Also, because anticoagulation was stopped for one month before the d-Dimer test was done, it is important to note that 5 of about 600 patients had a recurrent VTE during this initial month following anticoagulation discontinuation. d-Dimer results were not obtained at the time the anticoagulation was discontinued. The overall results of the trial are summarized in the table below.
Thromboembolism and Major Bleeding
Outcome |
Normal
d-Dimer
(n = 385) |
Abnormal d-Dimer without Anticoag.
(n = 120) |
Abnormal d-Dimer with Anticoag.
(n = 103) |
Events per 100 patient-years |
4.4 |
10.9 |
2.0 |
No. patient (%) with events |
24 (6.2) |
18 (15.0) |
3 (2.9) |
DVT alone |
19 |
11 |
1* |
PE (+/- DVT) |
5 |
7 |
1 |
Maj. Bleed |
0 |
0 |
1 |
*Occurred after stopping anticoagulation because of repeated falls. Events are by
intention-to-treat analysis. All patients had their anticoagulation stopped for
one month before entering the trial and 5 VTE events occurred during that month.
Adapted from Palareti et al. N Engl J Med 2006; 355:1780-1789
|
ClotCare is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization generously supported by your tax-deductible donations and grants from our industry supporters.
New Postings:
Click here to view full list of new postings
|
ClotCare Home | New Postings | Patient Postings | Clinician Postings | Join Our Email List | Useful Web Links
CE Opportunities | Training Programs | DVT & PE Stories | Editorial Board | Financial Support
About ClotCare | DVT Coalition | Donate to ClotCare | Contact Us
|
Key topics discussed on ClotCare include: Blood Clots | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) | Pulmonary Embolism (PE) | Atrial Fibrillation (A. Fib or AF) | Heart Attack | Stroke | Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) | Mini Stroke | Bleeding Complications | Vascular Surgery | Surgical Blood Clot Removal | Warfarin | Coumadin | Lovenox | Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) | Heparin | Anticoagulants | Plavix | Aspirin | Antiplatelets | Blood Thinners
|
Copyright 2000-2018 by ClotCare. All rights reserved.
Terms, Conditions, & Privacy | Image Copyright Information
19260 Stone Oak Parkway, Suite 101 | San Antonio, TX 78258 | 210-860-0487
Send comments to webmaster@clotcare.org.
Saturday, November 2, 2024
|