Does tranexamic acid increase venous thromboembolism risk among trauma patients? A prospective multicenter analysis across 17 level I trauma centers

IMPORTANCE

The early use of tranexamic acid (TXA) has demonstrated benefit among some trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock. The association between TXA administration and thromboembolic events (including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE) and pulmonary thrombosis (PT)) remains unclear. We aimed to characterize the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) subtypes among trauma patients receiving TXA and to determine whether TXA is associated with VTE risk and mortality.

METHODS

We analyzed a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort data from the Consortium of Leaders in the Study of Traumatic Thromboembolism (CLOTT) study group. The study was conducted across 17 US level I trauma centers between January 1, 2018, and December 31,2020. We studied trauma patients ages 18-40 years, admitted for at least 48 h with a minimum of 1 VTE risk factor and followed until hospital discharge or 30 days. We compared TXA recipients to non-recipients for VTE and mortality using inverse probability weighted Cox models. The primary outcome was the presence of documented venous thromboembolism (VTE). The secondary outcome was mortality. VTE was defined as DVT, PE, or PT.

RESULTS

Among the 7,331 trauma patients analyzed, 466 (6.4%) received TXA. Patients in the TXA group were more severely injured than patients in the non-TXA group (ISS 16+: 69.1% vs. 48.5%, p < 0.001) and a higher percentage underwent a major surgical procedure (85.8% vs. 73.6%, p < 0.001). Among TXA recipients, 12.5% developed VTE (1.3% PT, 2.4% PE, 8.8% DVT) with 5.6% mortality. In the non-TXA group, 4.6% developed VTE (1.1% PT, 0.5% PE, 3.0% DVT) with 1.7% mortality. In analyses adjusting for patient demographic and clinical characteristics, TXA administration was not significantly associated with VTE (aHR 1.00, 95%CI: 0.69-1.46, p = 0.99) but was significantly associated with increased mortality (aHR 2.01, 95%CI: 1.46-2.77, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

TXA was not clearly identified as an independent risk factor for VTE in adjusted analyses, but the risk of VTE among trauma patients receiving TXA remains high (12.5%). This supports the judicious use of TXA in resuscitation, with consideration of early initiation of DVT prophylaxis in this high-risk group.

Clinical prediction model for pulmonary thrombosis diagnosis in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background and Aim

We aimed to develop a clinical prediction model for pulmonary thrombosis (PT) diagnosis in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Methods

Non-intensive care unit hospitalized COVID-19 patients who underwent a computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) for suspected PT were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, analytical, and radiological variables as potential factors associated with the presence of PT were selected. Multivariable Cox regression analysis to develop a score for estimating the pre-test probability of PT was performed. The score was internally validated by bootstrap analysis.

Results

Among the 271 patients who underwent a CTPA, 132 patients (48.7%) had PT. Heart rate >100 bpm (OR = 4.63 [95% CI: 2.30-9.34]; P < 0.001), respiratory rate >22 bpm (OR = 5.21 [95% CI: 2.00-13.54]; P < 0.001), RALE score ≥4 (OR = 3.24 [95% CI: 1.66-6.32]; P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (CRP) >100 mg/L (OR = 2.10 [95% CI: 0.95-4.63]; P = 0.067), and D-dimer >3.000 ng/mL (OR = 6.86 [95% CI: 3.54-13.28]; P < 0.001) at the time of suspected PT were independent predictors of thrombosis. Using these variables, we constructed a nomogram (CRP, Heart rate, D-dimer, RALE score, and respiratory rate [CHEDDAR score]) for estimating the pre-test probability of PT. The score showed a high predictive accuracy (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve = 0.877; 95% CI: 0.83-0.92). A score lower than 182 points on the nomogram confers a low probability for PT with a negative predictive value of 92%.

Conclusions

CHEDDAR score can be used to estimate the pre-test probability of PT in hospitalized COVID-19 patients outside the intensive care unit.

Relevance for Patients

Developing a new clinical prediction model for PT diagnosis in COVID-19 may help in the triage of patients, and limit unnecessary exposure to radiation and the risk of nephrotoxicity due to iodinated contrast.

Rituximab and dupilumab improve eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis with multiple pulmonary thrombi

Background

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is characterized by a necrotizing vasculitis with tissue and peripheral blood eosinophilia affecting small and medium-sized arteries, capillaries, and veins. Venous thromboembolic events are uncommon in EGPA. Moreover, there are only a few reported cases of EGPA complicated by pulmonary embolism or infarction.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 43-year-old woman with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis and acute respiratory and heart failure due to bilateral pulmonary artery thrombosis and left femoral vein thrombosis 12 years after disease onset. She also had cardiac involvement (myocarditis, pericardial effusion, and diastolic dysfunction), gastrointestinal symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy. The condition was refractory to treatment with systemic corticosteroids, intravenous cyclophosphamide, and mepolizumab, but the thrombosis and associated acute cardiac failure, as well as the cardiac and gastrointestinal symptoms and multiple polyneuropathy, improved after a switch to rituximab. However, the heart failure did not improve sufficiently and the patient continued to need inhaled oxygen at 1 L/min and asthma exacerbations occurred. We then swapped the patient’s mepolizumab treatment for dupilumab. Not only did she have no further asthma attacks after switching to dupilumab, but also her vasculitis symptoms improved. Oxygen therapy was discontinued as the heart failure improved 5 months after starting the dupilumab.

Conclusions

This may be the first case report of the successful treatment by rituximab of pulmonary thromboembolism associated with EGPA. In addition, in this patient, treatment with dupilumab was effective not only for the asthma symptoms but also for the symptoms of vasculitis and heart failure.

Electrical impedance tomography clues to detect pulmonary thrombosis in a teenager with COVID-19

We report a case of pulmonary thrombosis in a teenager during a hypercoagulable state associated with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). A condition rare in children and adolescents, pulmonary thrombosis underdiagnosis likely increases morbidity and mortality. A pulmonary thrombosis diagnosis requires a high level of suspicion and relies on the combination of clinical presentation, D-dimer elevation, and computed tomography (CT) pulmonary angiography or ventilation/perfusion scans, imaging techniques that are difficult to perform. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has gained attention, as it provides real-time ventilation distribution analysis. In addition, lung pulsatility images can be obtained through this technique using electrocardiogram gating to filter out ventilation. In this case report, the reduced EIT pulsatility corresponded to the perfusion defect found on the CT scan, information that was obtained at the bedside without radiation or contrast exposure.

Serial markers of coagulation and inflammation and the occurrence of clinical pulmonary thromboembolism in mechanically ventilated patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection; the prospective Maastricht intensive care COVID cohort

Background

The incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism is high in SARS-CoV-2 patients admitted to the Intensive Care. Elevated biomarkers of coagulation (fibrinogen and D-dimer) and inflammation (c-reactive protein (CRP) and ferritin) are associated with poor outcome in SARS-CoV-2. Whether the time-course of fibrinogen, D-dimer, CRP and ferritin is associated with the occurrence of pulmonary thromboembolism in SARS-CoV-2 patients is unknown. We hypothesise that patients on mechanical ventilation with SARS-CoV-2 infection and clinical pulmonary thromboembolism have lower concentrations of fibrinogen and higher D-dimer, CRP, and ferritin concentrations over time compared to patients without a clinical pulmonary thromboembolism.

Methods

In a prospective study, fibrinogen, D-dimer, CRP and ferritin were measured daily. Clinical suspected pulmonary thromboembolism was either confirmed or excluded based on computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) or by transthoracic ultrasound (TTU) (i.e., right-sided cardiac thrombus). In addition, patients who received therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator were included when clinical instability in suspected pulmonary thromboembolism did not allow CTPA. Serial data were analysed using a mixed-effects linear regression model, and models were adjusted for known risk factors (age, sex, APACHE-II score, body mass index), biomarkers of coagulation and inflammation, and anticoagulants.

Results

Thirty-one patients were considered to suffer from pulmonary thromboembolism ((positive CTPA (n = 27), TTU positive (n = 1), therapy with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (n = 3)), and eight patients with negative CTPA were included. After adjustment for known risk factors and anticoagulants, patients with, compared to those without, clinical pulmonary thromboembolism had lower average fibrinogen concentration of − 0.9 g/L (95% CI: − 1.6 – − 0.1) and lower average ferritin concentration of − 1045 μg/L (95% CI: − 1983 – − 106) over time. D-dimer and CRP average concentration did not significantly differ, 561 μg/L (− 6212–7334) and 27 mg/L (− 32–86) respectively. Ferritin lost statistical significance, both in sensitivity analysis and after adjustment for fibrinogen and D-dimer.

Conclusion

Lower average concentrations of fibrinogen over time were associated with the presence of clinical pulmonary thromboembolism in patients at the Intensive Care, whereas D-dimer, CRP and ferritin were not. Lower concentrations over time may indicate the consumption of fibrinogen related to thrombus formation in the pulmonary vessels.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12959-021-00286-7.

[Systemic consequences and clinical aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection]

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 is considered a systemic disease. A severe course with fatal outcome is possible and unpredictable.

OBJECTIVES

Which organ systems are predominantly involved? Which diseases are predisposed for a fatal course? Which organ changes are found with lethal outcome?

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from published autopsy studies (28 cases by our group) with respect to organ changes and possible cause of death.

RESULTS

The most severe alterations are found in the lungs by diffuse alveolar damage as a symptom of an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in part with fibrosis. Thrombosis of small- to mid-sized pulmonary arteries is associated with hemorrhagic lung infarction. Frequent complications are bacterial pneumonias and less frequently fungal pneumonias by aspergillus. Pulmonary thromboembolism is found in 20-30% of lethal courses, also in the absence of deep venous thrombosis. Intestinal involvement of COVID-19 can be associated with intestinal ischemia, caused by shock or local thrombosis. In most cases, the kidneys display acute tubular injury reflecting acute renal failure, depletion of lymphocytes in the lymph nodes and spleen, and hyperplastic adrenal glands. The liver frequently reveals steatosis, liver cell necrosis, portal inflammation, and proliferation of Kupffer cells. Important preexisting diseases in autopsy studies are arterial hypertension with hypertensive and ischemic cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus but large population-based studies reveal increased risk of mortality only for diabetes mellitus not for arterial hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Alterations of the pulmonary circulation with pulmonary arterial thrombosis, infarction, and bacterial pneumonia are important and often lethal complications of COVID-19-associated ARDS. Findings from autopsy studies have influenced therapy and prophylaxis.

Tracking the time course of pathological patterns of lung injury in severe COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary involvement in COVID-19 is characterized pathologically by diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and thrombosis, leading to the clinical picture of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The direct action of SARS-CoV-2 in lung cells and the dysregulated immuno-coagulative pathways activated in ARDS influence pulmonary involvement in severe COVID, that might be modulated by disease duration and individual factors. In this study we assessed the proportions of different lung pathology patterns in severe COVID-19 patients along the disease evolution and individual characteristics.

METHODS

We analysed lung tissue from 41 COVID-19 patients that died in the period March-June 2020 and were submitted to a minimally invasive autopsy. Eight pulmonary regions were sampled. Pulmonary pathologists analysed the H&E stained slides, performing semiquantitative scores on the following parameters: exudative, intermediate or advanced DAD, bronchopneumonia, alveolar haemorrhage, infarct (%), arteriolar (number) or capillary thrombosis (yes/no). Histopathological data were correlated with demographic-clinical variables and periods of symptoms-hospital stay.

RESULTS

Patient´s age varied from 22 to 88 years (18f/23 m), with hospital admission varying from 0 to 40 days. All patients had different proportions of DAD in their biopsies. Ninety percent of the patients presented pulmonary microthrombosis. The proportion of exudative DAD was higher in the period 0-8 days of hospital admission till death, whereas advanced DAD was higher after 17 days of hospital admission. In the group of patients that died within eight days of hospital admission, elderly patients had less proportion of the exudative pattern and increased proportions of the intermediate patterns. Obese patients had lower proportion of advanced DAD pattern in their biopsies, and lower than patients with overweight. Clustering analysis showed that patterns of vascular lesions (microthrombosis, infarction) clustered together, but not the other patterns. The vascular pattern was not influenced by demographic or clinical parameters, including time of disease progression.

CONCLUSION

Patients with severe COVID-19 present different proportions of DAD patterns over time, with advanced DAD being more prevalent after 17 days, which seems to be influenced by age and weight. Vascular involvement is present in a large proportion of patients, occurs early in disease progression, and does not change over time.

Pulmonary thrombosis in Covid-19: before, during and after hospital admission

Disordered coagulation, endothelial dysfunction, dehydration and immobility contribute to a substantially elevated risk of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (PE) and systemic thrombosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). We evaluated the prevalence of pulmonary thrombosis and reported RV (right ventricular) dilatation/dysfunction associated with Covid-19 in a tertiary referral Covid-19 centre. Of 370 patients, positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), 39 patients (mean age 62.3 ± 15 years, 56% male) underwent computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), due to increasing oxygen requirements or refractory hypoxia, not improving on oxygen, very elevated D-dimer or tachycardia disproportionate to clinical condition. Thrombosis in the pulmonary vasculature was found in 18 (46.2%) patients. However, pulmonary thrombosis did not predict survival (46.2% survivors vs 41.7% non-survivors, p = 0.796), but RV dilatation was less frequent among survivors (11.5% survivors vs 58.3% non-survivors, p = 0.002). Over the following month, we observed four Covid-19 patients, who were admitted with high and intermediate-high risk PE, and we treated them with UACTD (ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis), and four further patients, who were admitted with PE up to 4 weeks after recovery from Covid-19. Finally, we observed a case of RV dysfunction and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension, associated with Covid-19 extensive lung disease. We demonstrated that pulmonary thrombosis is common in association with Covid-19. Also, the thrombotic risk in the pulmonary vasculature is present before and during hospital admission, and continues at least up to four weeks after discharge, and we present UACTD for high and intermediate-high risk PE management in Covid-19 patients.

Pulmonary thrombosis in acute organophosphate poisoning-Case report and literature overview of prothrombotic preconditioning in organophosphate toxicity

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Acute OP poisoning complicated with pulmonary thrombosis during the first week of poisoning.

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Antidote treatment included atropine, whereas diazepam was administered in the first 48 h.

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There was no administration of oximes due to unavailability.

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Prolonged hypoxemia in acute OP intoxication indicates exclusion of thrombotic pulmonary event.

Objective

Acute organophosphate (OP) poisonings are presented with acetylcholine-receptor overstimulation. There have been a few case reports of thrombotic complications in acute OP poisonings, as well as prolonged thrombosis preconditions in patients who survived this type of intoxications. The paper presents a case with pulmonary thrombosis (PT) that develops in the subacute phase of intentional acute OP poisoning, treated only with atropine, as well as a literature overview of OP-induced prothrombotic toxicity.

Case report

A middle aged woman was brought to the hospital after ingestion of unknown insecticide with suicidal intentions. She had a history of HTA (arterial hypertension), hyperlipidemia and untreated depression. The clinical features of poisoning were miosis, vomiting, dizziness, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Soon after admission, she developed difficulties in breathing with decrease of serum pseudocholinesterase (2590...1769...1644...800 U/l), bibasal pulmonary crackles, drop of SpO₂ to 84%. Antidote treatment included carbo medicinalis, atropine, and diazepam, without use of oximes. The seventh day pseudocholinesterase, the levels started to rise but the patient’s hyposaturation (SpO₂ 86-88%) persisted. Chest ultrasound detected hypoechoic subpleural lesion to the right. Haemostatic tests showed increased D-Dimmer (2312 ng/ml) with hypercoagulability. The CT pulmonary angiography confirmed PT and after the administration of low molecular heparin, her clinical condition improved.

Conclusion

Acute organophosphate poisoning treated with atropine showed a potential for inducing prothrombotic coagulation abnormalities, presented with PT. This life-threatening complication may additionally contribute to prolonged morbidity and mortality in OP poisonings, especially in patients with medical history of comorbidites.

Use of Computed Tomography - Digital Subtraction Angiography in differentiating pulmonary thrombosis and pulmonary artery dissection in a large pulmonary artery aneurysm

70 year-old female with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presented with typical symptoms of an exacerbation of COPD. Management of COPD resolved her wheezing, but ongoing hypoxia and retrospective history of atypical chest pain prompted exclusion of a pulmonary embolus. A CT Pulmonary Angiogram (CTPA) with standard 64-slice CT revealed an extensive non-occlusive defect in a grossly dilated right pulmonary artery. Presence of circumferential cuff of soft tissue within sub-segmental pulmonary artery branch raised the possibility of pulmonary artery dissection (PAD). Exclusion of PAD was important as it precluded full anticoagulation. A dynamic CT-digital subtraction angiography (CT-DSA) with the 320-slice multidetector CT (Aquilion-one Vision, Toshiba) did not reveal any intimal flap or contrast extension into the pulmonary arterial wall, suggesting it is unlikely to be PAD. The patient was started on full anticoagulation and reported improvement of symptoms with reduction in pulmonary thrombus burden on repeat CTPA at 4 weeks. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of dynamic CT-DSA in ruling out PAD.

Concurrent pulmonary thrombosis with systemic embolism: a case report

Based on different mechanisms of blood coagulation, coexistence of venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis in a single individual is extremely rare in clinical practice. Both antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy should be adopted for patients with arteriovenous embolism. Balancing the risk of ischemia and hemorrhage is especially challenging in these patients in order to achieve an optimal clinical benefit. We report on a 55-year-old female with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), subsequently diagnosed as having acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and a cerebral infarction. Examinations had been carried out, excluding potential arteriovenous shunts, cancer, antiphospholipid syndrome and other common hypercoagulable states. A combination of an anticoagulant drug (rivaroxaban, an Xa inhibitor) and an antiplatelet agent (clopidogrel, an ADP receptor inhibitor) was prescribed with a β-blocker and atorvastatin. The embolus was gradually shrunk during the next 10 months, and then it turned back into expanding. During the 16 months' follow-up, an aneurysm of left ventricular apex was found through an echocardiogram and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor was administered. We conclude that combined anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy significantly relieved the symptoms and improved the prognosis in patients suffering from arteriovenous embolism without any major clinical bleeding events.