Diagnostic value of soluble CD14 subtype (sCD14-ST) presepsin for the postmortem diagnosis of sepsis-related fatalities

The first aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of presepsin (sCD14-ST) in postmortem serum from femoral blood compared to procalcitonin (PCT) to detect sepsis-related fatalities. The second aim was to compare sCD14-ST levels found in postmortem serum to the values in pericardial fluid to investigate the usefulness of the latter as an alternative biological fluid. Two study groups were formed, a sepsis-related fatalities group and a control group. Radiology (unenhanced CT scans and postmortem angiographies), autopsies, histology, neuropathology, and toxicology as well as other postmortem biochemistry investigations were performed in all cases. Microbiological investigations on right cardiac blood were carried out exclusively in septic cases. The results of this study indicated that postmortem serum PCT and sCD14-ST levels, individually considered, allowed septic cases to be identified. Even though increases in both PCT and sCD14-ST concentrations were observed in the control cases, coherent PCT and sCD14-ST results in cases with suspected sepsis allowed the diagnosis to be confirmed. Conversely, no relevant correlation was identified between postmortem serum and pericardial fluid sCD14-ST levels in either the septic or control group

Introduzione dei nuovi farmaci anticoagulanti orali nella pratica clinica routinaria del Centro TAO: bilancio di un anno di follow-up.

Valutazione di un anno di follow up in 101 pazienti in terapia con DOAC, confrontati a 101 pazienti in terapia con antagonisti della vitamina k

Comunicare la memoria del Mediterraneo : strumenti, esperienze e progetti di valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale marittimo : atti del Convegno internazionale organizzato dalla Regione Toscana nell'ambito del progetto europeo "Antiche rotte marittime del Mediterraneo", ANSER, Pisa, 29-30 ottobre 2004 / organisé par le Centre Jean Bérard et le Centre Camille Jullian ; a cura di Francesco Gravina ; con la collaborazione di Franca Cibecchini e Antoinette Hesnard. - Naples : Centre Jean Bérard ; Aix-en-Provence : Centre Camille Julian, 2007 (Collection du Centre Jean Bérard, 24)

International audienc

Thrombophilia testing in the real-world clinical setting of thrombosis centres taking part in the italian start 2-register

BACKGROUND: Even though it rarely influences venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment and the fact that it is generally discouraged, thrombophilia testing is still largely prescribed. We assessed: 1) whether/how frequently Italian thrombosis centres requested thrombophilia testing; 2) what results were obtained; and 3) if the results affected treatment and clinical results.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined data from 4,826 VTE patients enrolled by 19 clinical centres participating in the START 2-Register.RESULTS: 57.2% of patients were tested. Numbers varied widely among centres (2.9-99.7%). Thrombophilic alterations were recorded in 18.2% of patients and the percentage of positive results was inversely correlated with that of patients tested. Significantly less patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were tested, whereas more were tested when the event was idiopathic, presenting as isolated pulmonary embolism (PE), or in unusual sites. Patients with thrombophilic alterations were younger, more frequently treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), with lower mortality and less frequently discontinued anticoagulation. DOACs were more frequently prescribed in patients with heterozygous Factor V (FV) Leiden or prothrombin mutations, whereas vitamin K antagonists were preferred in patients with inhibitor deficiencies, combined alterations or antiphospholipid syndrome (APLS). There was no difference in duration of treatment among those with or without alterations, though more APLS patients received an extended treatment course. Bleeding and thrombotic complications occurred with a similar and fairly low incidence in patients with or without thrombophilic alterations.DISCUSSION: Although general testing for thrombophilia in VTE patients is currently discouraged, more than half of the VTE patients included in the START2-Register were tested. However, there were marked differences in practice between Italian thrombosis centres. About 60% of all patients with alterations were treated with DOACs, confirming that DOACs can be a useful option for treatment of thrombophilic VTE patients, with the exclusion of those with APLS

Comunicare la memoria del Mediterraneo : strumenti, esperienze e progetti di valorizzazione del patrimonio culturale marittimo : atti del Convegno internazionale organizzato dalla Regione Toscana nell'ambito del progetto europeo "Antiche rotte marittime del Mediterraneo", ANSER, Pisa, 29-30 ottobre 2004

International audienc

Bleeding and thrombotic complications during treatment with direct oral anticoagulants or vitamin K antagonists in venous thromboembolic patients included in the prospective, observational START2-register

Objective The proportion and characteristics of Italian patients affected by venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), and complications occurring during follow-up.Design A prospective cohort of 2728 VTE patients included in the Survey on anticoagulaTed pAtients RegisTer (START2-Register) from January 2014 to June 2018 was investigated. Characteristics of patients, type of treatment and complications occurring during 2962 years of follow-up were analysed.Setting About 60 Italian anticoagulation and thrombosis centres participated in the observational START2-RegisterParticipants 2728 adult patients with VTE of a lower limb and/or pulmonary embolism (PE), with a follow-up after the initial phase treatment.Interventions Patients could receive DOACs or VKAs; both prescribed by the National and Regional Health Systems for patients with VTE.Outcomes measures Efficacy: rate of VTE recurrence (all thrombotic complications were also recorded). Safety: the rate of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events.Results Almost 80% of patients were treated with DOACs. The prevalence of symptomatic PE and impaired renal function was higher in patients receiving VKAs. Duration of anticoagulation was >180 days in approximately 70% of patients. Bleeding events were similar in both treatment groups. The overall eventuality of recurrence was significantly higher in DOAC cohorts versus VKA cohorts (HR 2.15 (1.14–4.06), p=0.018); the difference was almost completely due to recurrences occurring during extended treatment (2.73% DOAC vs 0.49% VKA, p<0.0001). All-cause mortality was higher in VKA-treated (5.9%) than in DOAC-treated patients (2.6%, p<0.001).Conclusion Italian centres treat most patients with VTE with DOACs and prefer VKA for those with more serious clinical conditions. Recurrences were significantly more frequent in DOAC-treated patients due to increased incidence after 180 days of treatment, probably due to reduced adherence to treatment. These results underline the importance of structured surveillance of DOAC-treated patients with VTE to strengthen treatment adherence during extended therapy

The Italian START-Register on anticoagulation with focus on atrial fibrillation

START-Register - Survey on anTicoagulated pAtients RegisTer - is an independent, inception-cohort, observational, collaborative database aimed at recording prospectively the clinical history of adult patients starting anticoagulant treatment for any reason and using whatever drug. In this article we present the START-Register and give cross section baseline data focusing on non valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Participants are asked to insert prospectively consecutive patients recorded as electronic file on the web-site of the registry. Required data are: demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, associated risk factors for stroke and bleeding, laboratory routine data, clinical indication for treatment, expected therapeutic range (in cases of treatment with vitamin K antagonists -VKAs). The follow-up is carried out to record: quality of treatment (for patients on VKAs), bleeding complications, thrombotic events, and the onset of any type of associated disease. To date 5252 patients have been enrolled; 97.6% were on VKAs because direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) have been available in Italy only recently. The median age was 74 years [interquartile range (IQR) 64-80]; males 53.7%. This analysis is focused on the 3209 (61.1%) NVAF patients. Mean CHADS2 score was 2.1±1.1, CHADSVASc score was 3.1±1.3;median age was 76 years (IQR 70-81); 168 patients (5.3%) had severe renal failure [Creatinine clearance (CrCl) 80 years with high prevalence of renal failure