Blood glucose as a marker of venous thromboembolism in critically ill children

The Effect of Serum Electrolyte Levels and Infusion Treatments on the Development of Femoral Central Venous Catheter-Associated Deep Vein Thrombosis in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of symptomatic central venous catheters-associated deep vein thrombosis (CVC-a DVT) among critically ill children with femoral vein implantation in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to compare the demographic factors, serum electrolyte levels, and types of the infusion treatments performed. A total of 215 patients aged 1 month to 18 years who had femoral CVC implanted between 2019 and 2021 were included in this study. The cases that were clinically symptomatic and had thrombosis diagnosed ultrasonography were accepted as CVC-a DVT (+), and the other cases were considered as CVC-a DVT (-). Of the total 215 cases, 57.2% (n = 123) were female and 42.8% (n = 92) were male. Catheters-associated deep vein thrombosis diagnosis were made in 9.8% of the cases (n = 21). The mean time to diagnose thrombosis in CVC-a DVT (+) cases was 8.33 ± 5.65 days. With regard to gender, age, blood type, intubation status, length of stay on mechanical ventilator, presence of extra hemodialysis catheter, acute and chronic disease status, number of days of PICU hospitalization, and Pediatric Risk of Mortality-3 scoring, no significant differences between CVC-a DVT (-) and CVC-a DVT (+) cases were observed (P > .05). The incidence of thrombosis in refugee cases was found to be significantly higher than in Turkish cases (P = .047; P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in baseline, mean, and peak glucose, sodium, and magnesium values and who received magnesium, blood product, inotrope, and 3% hypertonic saline (HTS) infusion (P > .05). No effect of serum glucose, sodium, and magnesium levels on the development of CVC-a DVT was found. Magnesium, blood product, inotrope, and 3% HTS infusion treatments have not been shown to have an effect on the development of CVC-a DVT.

Biomarkers in pediatric venous thromboembolism: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Accurate prediction of the individual risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains suboptimal in children, and biomarkers are currently not used to stratify the risk of VTE in children.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to assess which biological or radiological biomarkers may predict VTE or VTE complications in children.

PATIENTS/METHODS

A literature search was performed for peer-reviewed publications (1990-2022). We included studies addressing the use of biomarkers for patients aged 29 days to 18 years to predict VTE or its complications, including but not limited to TE-related death, VTE recurrence, or postthrombotic syndrome. Given the heterogeneity of the study designs, populations, and outcomes, no quantitative data synthesis was performed.

RESULTS

Forty studies were included, totaling 10,987 participants (median age: 4.7 years). Reports were often lacking critical methodological data, including blood collection method (68% of studies) and timepoints, laboratory testing technique (41%), or primary outcome definition (20%). Forty-six individual biomarkers were assessed for VTE prediction (32 studies, 9525 participants), including d-dimers, fibrinogen, platelet count, white blood cell count, and factor VIII. Albumin, C-reactive protein, d-dimers, factor VIII, and thrombin-antithrombin levels showed promising results for VTE prediction. In 9 studies (1606 participants), no biomarker was consistently predictive of postthrombotic syndrome, VTE persistence, or VTE recurrence in children.

CONCLUSIONS

Several candidate biomarkers were promising in the prediction of VTE in children. Still, discrepancies between different studies and the high risk of bias from the current literature prevent their widespread use in the clinical setting. Further prospective research in various pediatric subpopulations is required.

Validation of risk assessment models for venous thromboembolism and bleeding in critically ill adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To determine the performance of risk assessment models that were developed for adults, in predicting venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding in critically ill adolescents.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adolescents 12 to 17 years old admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit who received cardiopulmonary support but did not have VTE on admission nor received anticoagulation. Discrimination, using areas under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) and precision-recall (AUPRC) curves, and calibration, using Hosmer-Lemeshow test, of the Geneva, Padua, IMPROVE VTE and IMPROVE Bleed models were calculated.

RESULTS

Of 536 adolescents analyzed, 7 (1.3%) developed VTE and 13 (2.4%) bled. AUROCs of the Geneva, Padua and IMPROVE VTE models ranged from 0.46 to 0.59, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) including 0.5. AUPRCs ranged from 0.011 to 0.017, with 95% CIs including 0.013. Only IMPROVE VTE model had non-statistically significant Hosmer-Lemeshow test. IMPROVE Bleed model had AUROC and AUPRC of 0.75 and 0.062, with 95% CIs excluding 0.5 and 0.024, respectively. Hosmer-Lemeshow test was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Despite similarities in coagulation between adolescents and adults, risk assessment models for VTE in adults should not be used for critically ill adolescents. The model for bleeding may be useful.

Thromboembolic Complications of Vascular Catheters Used for Pediatric Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy: Prevalence in a Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort

OBJECTIVES

Pediatric venous thromboembolic events are commonly associated with in situ central venous catheters. The risk for severe venous thromboembolism increases if a larger portion of the vessel lumen is occupied by the central venous catheter. A functioning vascular catheter is required when the continuous renal replacement therapy is used in critically ill children. Due to the high blood flow required for continuous renal replacement therapy, the external diameter of the catheter needs to be larger than a conventional central venous catheter used for venous access, potentially increasing the risk of venous thromboembolism. However, children on continuous renal replacement therapy often receive systemic anticoagulation to prevent filter clotting, possibly also preventing venous thromboembolism. The frequency of catheter-related venous thromboembolic events in this setting has not been described. Our main objective was to determine the prevalence of catheter-related venous thromboembolism in pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary multidisciplinary academic pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS

Patients 0-18 years old with a vascular catheter used for continuous renal replacement therapy.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

In our series of 80 patients, we used 105 vascular catheters. The median age of the patients was 10 months and PICU mortality rate was 21%. Venous thromboembolic events were considered to be catheter related if located in the same vein as the vascular catheter and radiologically verified. Six (5.7%) catheter-related venous thromboembolic events were found. The clinically relevant complications of venous thromboembolism included superior vena cava syndrome and catheter dysfunction. In one patient, severe and life-threatening pulmonary embolism occurred. In comparison with patients without venous thromboembolism, venous thromboembolic events were associated with lower body weight (p = 0.03) and longer durations of continuous renal replacement therapy (p < 0.01), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.03), and PICU stay (p < 0.01). Five out of six venous thromboembolisms appeared in neonates.

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter-related venous thromboembolism is a clinically relevant complication of pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy, with a prevalence of 5.7% in our cohort. Clinicians involved in pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy need to be vigilant for symptoms of venous thromboembolisms and initiate appropriate treatment as soon as possible.

Increased tissue factor activity promotes thrombin generation at type 1 diabetes onset in children

OBJECTIVE

In type 1 diabetes (T1D), a prothrombotic status due to elevated coagulation factors coincides with metabolic derailment. In a previous study, we discovered altered thrombin generation profiles in children with T1D. These alterations are potentially most pronounced at T1D onset and ameliorated after insulin treatment. We tested this hypothesis in a longitudinal study, measuring thrombin generation together with coagulation parameters in children at T1D onset and during follow-up.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-three children (12 female, age: 9.4 [2.7-17.3] years; median [range]) were tested at T1D onset and after long-term insulin treatment. Thrombin generation was measured using calibrated automated thrombography. Tissue factor (TF) activity and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) activity were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

A procoagulant shift was observed in thrombin generation traces at T1D onset compared to follow-up (time to peak: 5.67 [4.11-7.67] min vs 6.39 [4.89-10.44] min, P < .001). These alterations at T1D onset coincided with increased TF activity (5.18 [0.01-12.97] pmol/L vs 2.67 [0.04-10.41] pmol/L, P < .05) and increased TFPI activity (0.051 [0.038-0.074] U/mL vs 0.035 [0.026-0.056] U/mL, P < .05).

CONCLUSION

The procoagulant shift in thrombin generation at T1D onset is a result of increased TF activity, but this effect is partially counterbalanced by increased TFPI levels. Elevated TF and TFPI levels hint to a fragile hemostatic balance at the endothelial lining of blood vessels. Additional prothrombotic stimuli may tip over this balance explaining the increased thrombotic risk of children with T1D.

Does Hyperglycemia Affect Risk of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter-Related Upper Extremity Venous Thrombosis?

It is not clear whether blood glucose (BG) affects the risk of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)-related upper extremity venous thrombosis (PRUEVT). A case-control study was conducted comparing patients with PRUEVT versus patients with PICCs who did not develop PRUEVT. BG on admission was significantly higher among cases with PRUEVT than controls. No significant differences were found between the groups in hemoglobin A1c or BG on the third day of hospitalization. PRUEVT cases were more likely to be diabetic, but this did not reach statistical significance. The time that a PICC was in place before PRUEVT was diagnosed was longer for diabetic patients, but the authors believe this result must be viewed with caution.

Clinical significance of glycemic parameters on venous thromboembolism risk prediction in gastrointestinal cancer

AIM

To investigate the possible predictive role of routinely used glycemic parameters for a first venous thromboembolism (VTE) episode in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer ambulatory patients - with or without clinically diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) or obesity - treated with chemotherapy.

METHODS

Pre-treatment fasting blood glucose, insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) and homeostasis model of risk assessment (HOMA) were retrospectively evaluated in a cohort study of 342 GI cancer patients. Surgery was performed in 142 (42%) patients with primary cancer, 30 (21%) and 112 (79%) of whom received neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies, respectively. First-line chemotherapy was administered in 200 (58%) patients with metastatic disease. The study outcome was defined as the occurrence of a first symptomatic or asymptomatic VTE episode during active treatment.

RESULTS

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or T2D were diagnosed in 30% of GI cancer patients, while overweight/obesity had an incidence of 41%. VTE occurred in 9.4% of patients (7% of non-diabetic non-obese), especially in those with a high ECOG score (P = 0.025). No significant association was found between VTE incidence and T2D, obesity, different tumor types, metastatic disease, Khorana class of risk, or different anti-cancer drugs, although VTE rates were substantially higher in patients receiving bevacizumab (17% vs 8%, P = 0.044). Conversely, all glucose metabolic indexes were associated with increased VTE risk at ROC analysis. Multivariate Cox proportional analyses confirmed that HOMA index (HR = 4.13, 95%CI: 1.63-10.5) or fasting blood glucose (HR = 3.56, 95%CI: 1.51-8.39) were independent predictors of VTE occurrence during chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The results here reported demonstrate that evaluating glucose metabolic asset may allow for VTE risk stratification in GI cancer, helping to identify chemotherapy-treated patients who might benefit from thromboprophylaxis. Further multicenter prospective studies involving a larger number of patients are presently needed.

Diabetic aggravation of stroke and animal models

Cerebral ischemia in diabetics results in severe brain damage. Different animal models of cerebral ischemia have been used to study the aggravation of ischemic brain damage in the diabetic condition. Since different disease conditions such as diabetes differently affect outcome following cerebral ischemia, the Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) guidelines recommends use of diseased animals for evaluating neuroprotective therapies targeted to reduce cerebral ischemic damage. The goal of this review is to discuss the technicalities and pros/cons of various animal models of cerebral ischemia currently being employed to study diabetes-related ischemic brain damage. The rational use of such animal systems in studying the disease condition may better help evaluate novel therapeutic approaches for diabetes related exacerbation of ischemic brain damage.

Venous thromboembolism has the same risk factors as atherosclerosis: A PRISMA-compliant systemic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that idiopathic pulmonary embolism is positively associated with other cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, suggesting a potentially important association between atherosclerosis risk factors and venous thromboembolism (VTE). We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the correlation between risk factors for atherosclerosis and VTE.

METHODS

In December 2014, we searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for studies evaluating the associations between VTE and risk factors for atherosclerosis and pooled outcome data using random-effects meta-analysis. In addition, we analyzed publication bias.

RESULTS

Thirty-three case-control and cohort studies with a total of 185,124 patients met the inclusion criteria. We found that participants with body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m had a significantly higher prevalence of VTE than those with BMI <30 kg/m in both case-control studies (odds ratio [OR] = 2.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.78-3.35) and cohort studies (relative risk [RR] = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.79-3.17). VTE was more prevalent in patients with hypertension than without hypertension (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06-1.84; RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.11-1.67). The findings were similar for VTE prevalence between patients with and without diabetes (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.17-2.69; RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.20-1.66). Current smoking was significantly associated with VTE prevalence in case-control studies (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.01-1.77), but not in cohort studies (RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.96-1.72). In addition, we found that total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly higher in patients with VTE than without VTE (weighted mean differences [WMD] = 8.94 mg/dL, 95% CI: 3.52-14.35 mg/dL, and WMD = 14.00 mg/dL, 95% CI: 8.85-19.16 mg/dL, respectively). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in patients with VTE than without VTE (WMD = -2.03 mg/dL, 95% CI: -3.42 to -0.63 mg/dL). Higher quality studies were more homogeneous, but confirmed the same significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our systematic review and meta-analysis, we observed a significant association between VTE and the risk factors for atherosclerosis. These results may make an important contribution to clinical practice regarding VTE treatment.