Venous thromboembolism in Croatia - Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases (CROHEM) study

Aim

To analyze the incidence and characteristics of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Croatia.

Methods

The Croatian Cooperative Group for Hematologic Diseases conducted an observational non-interventional study in 2011. Medical records of patients with newly diagnosed VTE hospitalized in general hospitals in 4 Croatian counties (Šibenik-Knin, Koprivnica-Križevci, Brod-Posavina, and Varaždin County) were reviewed. According to 2011 Census, the population of these counties comprises 13.1% of the Croatian population.

Results

There were 663 patients with VTE; 408 (61.54%) had deep vein thrombosis, 219 (33.03%) had pulmonary embolism, and 36 (5.43%) had both conditions. Median age was 71 years, 290 (43.7%) were men and 373 (56.3%) women. Secondary VTE was found in 57.3% of participants, idiopathic VTE in 42.7%, and recurrent VTE in 11.9%. There were no differences between patients with secondary VTE and patients with idiopathic VTE in disease recurrence and sex. The most frequent causes of secondary VTE were cancer (40.8%), and trauma, surgery, and immobilization (38.2%), while 42.9% patients with secondary VTE had ≥2 causes. There were 8.9% patients ≤45 years; 3.3% with idiopathic or recurrent VTE. Seventy patients (10.6%) died, more of whom had secondary (81.4%) than idiopathic (18.6%) VTE (P < 0.001), and in 50.0% VTE was the main cause of death. Estimated incidence of VTE in Croatia was 1.185 per 1000 people.

Conclusion

Characteristics of VTE in Croatia are similar to those reported in large international studies. Improved thromboprophylaxis during the presence of risk factors for secondary VTE might substantially lower the VTE burden.

[Diagnosis and therapy for patients with essential thrombocythemia. Guidelines of Croatian Cooperative Group for hematologic disorders--KROHEM]

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a clonal myeloproliferative neoplasm. Croatian Cooperative Group for hematologic disorders, KROHEM proposes the diagnostic and treatment guidelines for ET. Diagnosis of ET is based on the criteria and classification of World Health Organization (WHO). The level of treatment recommendation is based on the UpToDate (web based medical community database) criteria. For ET diagnosis it is mandatory to show sustained increased number of platelets with typical histomorphological changes of megakaryopoiesis in bone marrow. Secondary thrombocytosis and other chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms have to be excluded. Therapy is based on risk factors for ET. The risk factors are number of platelets, patient's age, and the risk levels for thrombosis and bleeding. Patients with low risk (age < 60 years and platelets < 1000 x 10(9)/L) arw not candidates for therapy. In younger group of patients with platelets between 1000 and 1500 x 10(9)/L or more than 1500 x 10(9)/L treatment with anagrelide or hydroxyurea is recommended respectively. In high risk patients hydroxyurea is the first line treatment. Anagrelide is indicated in these patients in the absence of treatment response. Alpha-interferon is recommended for pregnant women with ET and high platelet counts.