Anticoagulation in Italian patients with venous thromboembolism and thrombophilic alterations: findings from START2 register study

Efficacy and safety of anti-Xa direct oral anticoagulants vs. warfarin in patients homozygous for Factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A mutations

Factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin G20210A mutation (PGM) are the most common types of inherited thrombophilia, predisposing to increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. The homozygous and compound heterozygous forms of these mutations are extremely rare. While direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have replaced vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) as the primary treatment for VTE, data on their use in patients with high-risk hereditary thrombophilia are limited. To compare the efficacy and safety of DOACs vs. VKA in patients with high-risk hereditary thrombophilia, including FVL and PGM. This retrospective cohort study included adults with homozygous/compound heterozygous FVL and/or PGM who experienced a thrombotic event between 2000 and 2022. The primary outcome was the incidence of recurrent thrombosis in patients with high-risk inherited thrombophilia treated with DOACs versus VKAs. The secondary outcome included a comparison of rates of bleeding complications between these groups. The types of bleeding were defined according to the ISTH criteria. Of 56 patients included 28 received DOACs and 28 received VKAs. There was no significant difference in recurrent VTE rates (1/28, 3.6% DOAC group vs. 0/28, 0% VKA group) or major bleeding (1/28, 3.6% DOAC group vs. 1/28, 3.6% VKA group). This is the largest cohort of patients with high-risk hereditary thrombophilia, providing valuable insights into DOAC use in this group. The findings suggest that DOACs may represent an effective and safe alternative to VKAs. Further research is warranted to confirm these results and optimize anticoagulant management in this challenging patient group.

Extensive Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism in a Young Patient With Heterozygous Factor V Leiden Mutation and Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Although thrombotic events are uncommon in young individuals, patients with genetic mutations in coagulation factors may develop extensive multisite thrombosis. We present the case of a 26-year-old patient, a smoker for nine years, who was admitted to the hospital complaining of right thigh pain with swelling, right flank abdominal pain, dyspnea, and hemoptysis. A medical history provided by the patient indicated that one month prior to presentation, an accidental fall had resulted in multiple rib fractures, bilateral hemopneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. These injuries were treated with bilateral pleurotomy and passive pleural drainage. Upon initial presentation, the electrocardiogram (ECG) exhibited a distinctive pattern indicative of pulmonary embolism (PE), specifically sinus tachycardia and the S1Q3T3 pattern. Additionally, the thoraco-abdominopelvic angio-CT revealed acute PE in the branches of the pulmonary arteries supplying the bilateral lower lobes and deep vein thrombosis in the right external iliac vein, right common iliac vein with a protruding filling defect of approximately 18 mm in the inferior vena cava and extension to the left common iliac vein. Furthermore, a Doppler ultrasound of the right lower extremity revealed the presence of thrombosis along the entire right femoro-popliteal axis. Subsequent screening for hereditary thrombophilia revealed a heterozygous factor V Leiden G1691A* mutation and elevated levels of anticardiolipin antibodies. Despite the patient's compliance with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) following discharge, a new thrombotic event, left femoral-popliteal venous axis thrombosis, occurred after a three-month interval. Repeat testing for anticardiolipin antibodies revealed an elevated titer, leading to a diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome. Given this diagnosis, anticoagulation with an antivitamin K was initiated. Screening for hereditary thrombophilia is crucial in young patients with thromboembolic events, as genetic causes may influence the therapeutic management and duration of anticoagulant treatment.

Secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism with direct oral anticoagulants: comparison between patients with major congenital thrombophilia versus non-thrombophilic patients

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are widely used for the treatment and secondary prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Congenital thrombophilia is a condition that predisposes to a higher incidence of VTE and often requires long-term anticoagulation for secondary prophylaxis. It is less clear the efficacy of DOACs in patients with major thrombophilia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of full and reduced DOACs dose for VTE secondary prophylaxis, in patients affected by major congenital thrombophilia compared to a control group of patients with idiopathic recurrent VTE without thrombophilia. We retrospectively evaluated consecutive patients who required long-term anticoagulation for recurrent VTE, treated with DOACs, and compared the outcomes between patients affected by major thrombophilia and the control group. The examined patients were 209. The median time of DOACs therapy was 20 months (range 6-90). Two (2.7%) thrombotic events were observed in the subset affected by major congenital thrombophilia (n = 72) and five (3.6%) in the control group (n = 137) (p 0.73). Four (5.5%) hemorrhagic events were reported in the group with major thrombophilia; 21 (15.3%) in the other group (p 0.039). No statistically significant differences were observed in terms of efficacy and safety between DOACs at full and reduced dose. Our data suggest that DOACs may be effective and safe in the secondary VTE prophylaxis in patients affected by major congenital thrombophilia, also at reduced dose.

Magnitudes of Risk Factors of Venous Thromboembolism and Quality of Anticoagulant Therapy in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review

Background

Venous thromboembolism is one of the major public health problems in the world. Though several studies were conducted to estimate common risk factors of venous thromboembolism and quality of anticoagulant therapy in Ethiopia, it is difficult to estimate the overall burdens of risk factors and quality of anticoagulant use because of the lack of a nationwide study.

Objective

To assess magnitudes of risk factors of venous thromboembolism and quality of anticoagulant therapy in Ethiopia.

Materials and Methods

Electronic searching using PubMed, EMBASE, Science Direct, Cochrane Database, Scopus, Hinari, Sci-Hub, African Journals Online Library, and Free-text Web Searches using Google Scholar was conducted from September, 15 to October 27, 2021. Each of the original studies was identified by Mesh terms and Boolean search technique using full title, various keywords and was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. The data were extracted using a format prepared in Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA 14.0 for the outcome analyses.

Results

The database search delivered a total of 2118 studies. After articles were removed by duplications, titles, reading the abstract, and assessed for eligibility criteria, 12 articles were found suitable for the systematic review. Prolonged immobilization (41.30%) was the most commonly observed risk factor of venous thrombosis followed by acute infection (40.25%). The proportion of therapeutic range (INR = 2-3), sub-therapeutic range (INR <2), and supra-therapeutic range (INR >3) were 32.15%, 47.58%, and 17.62%, respectively. One hundred and thirty-eight patients (11.4%) have developed minor or major bleeding complications.

Conclusion

Prolonged immobilization and acute infection were the main risk factors for venous thromboembolism. The quality of anticoagulant therapy in Ethiopia was poor and bleeding complications were high. A strong effort is needed to improve the quality of anticoagulation and close monitoring of patients' international normalized ratio is required to improve treatment outcomes.

Inherited Thrombophilia in the Era of Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Severe inherited thrombophilia includes rare deficiencies of natural anticoagulants (antithrombin and proteins C and S) and homozygous or combined factor V Leiden and FII G20210A variants. They are associated with a high thrombosis risk and can impact the duration of anticoagulation therapy for patients with a venous thromboembolism (VTE) event. Therefore, it is important to diagnose thrombophilia and to use adapted anticoagulant therapy. The widespread use of direct anticoagulants (DOACs) for VTE has raised new issues concerning inherited thrombophilia. Concerning inherited thrombophilia diagnosis, DOACs are directed toward either FIIa or FXa and can therefore interfere with coagulation assays. This paper reports DOAC interference in several thrombophilia tests, including the assessment of antithrombin, protein S, and protein C activities. Antithrombin activity and clot-based assays used for proteins C and S can be overestimated, with a risk of missing a deficiency. The use of a device to remove DOACs should be considered to minimize the risk of false-negative results. The place of DOACs in the treatment of VTE in thrombophilia patients is also discussed. Available data are encouraging, but given the variability in thrombosis risk within natural anticoagulant deficiencies, evidence in patients with well-characterized thrombophilia would be useful.

Heritable Thrombophilia in Venous Thromboembolism in Northern Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is referred to as formation of clots in a deep vein or lodging of thrombus towards the lungs which could be fatal yet preventable. The risk of developing VTE can be increased by various factors. Where there are innumerable acquired causes, the possibility of inherited thrombophilia cannot be ignored. In view of this, we have evaluated all patients with venous thromboembolism for inherited thrombophilia.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the frequencies of antithrombin (AT) deficiency, protein C and S deficiencies, Factor V Leiden, and prothrombin gene mutations in patients harboring venous thromboembolism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study comprising of 880 patients who were presented with manifestations of venous thromboembolism was conducted from July 2016 to June 2017. A blood sample collected from patients was screened for thrombophilia defects encompassing AT, protein C and S deficiencies, Factor V Leiden, and prothrombin gene mutations. All acquired causes of thrombosis were excluded.

RESULTS

Of 880 patients who underwent screening for thrombophilia, 182 patients demonstrated VTE history. Their age ranged from 1 to 58 years. Males constituted a predominant group. About 45 (24.7%) patients had evidence of heritable thrombophilia. Of these, 20 (10.9%) had AT deficiency, 9 (4.9%) had Factor V Leiden mutation, 6 (3.2%) had protein C deficiency, whereas protein S deficiency and prothrombin gene mutation both were found in 5 (2.7%) patients.

CONCLUSION

Our study illustrated the highest frequency of antithrombin deficiency among other investigated thrombophilia defects.

MAC Project-Monitoring Anticoagulant Therapy Observational Study: Rationale and Protocol

Real-life studies complement data from registrative trials. Because of the delayed registration of direct oral anticoagulants in Italy, scarce real-life data on such treatments is available for the Italian population. The aim of the MAC project is to collect real-life clinical information in unselected patients given oral anticoagulants for venous thromboembolism, during a 5-year follow-up period. This is a prospective-cohort, multi-center, observational study performed in four Italian centers. The estimated samples size is 4,000 patients. The efficacy outcomes are: incidence of symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism and of post-thrombotic syndrome. The safety outcomes are: incidence of major bleeding, clinically relevant non-major bleeding, minor bleeding, serious adverse events, and mortality. The MAC project has the potential to improve our understanding of the epidemiology and of the therapeutic strategies adopted in Italian patients with venous thromboembolism.

Clinical Trial Registration: WWW.ClinicalTrials.Gov, identifier: NCT0432939.