Preventing VTE following total hip and knee arthroplasty: is prediction the future?

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Many guidelines advise on the ideal pharmacological thromboprophylaxis strategy; however, despite its use, approximately 1.5% of patients still develop symptomatic VTE. Considering the large number of THAs and TKAs performed worldwide (2.5 million in total), the impact of VTE following these interventions is enormous. This paper discusses a concept how to further lower rates of VTE and bleeding complications following surgery. By stratifying patients according to their risk, we can optimize the balance between VTE and bleeding for each individual. This way, low-risk patients may be safely withheld from treatment (and avoid unnecessary bleeding complications and costs), whereas high-risk patients should receive adequate therapy (for instance, an increased thromboprophylaxis dosage and duration). An individualized strategy requires a well-functioning VTE prediction model following THA and TKA to help physicians to decide on optimal thromboprophylaxis therapy.Thrombosis and Hemostasi

Measurement of coagulation factors during rivaroxaban and apixaban treatment: Results from two crossover trials

Clinical epidemiolog

Structural valve deterioration of a mitral Carpentier-Edwards pericardial bioprosthesis in an 87-year-old woman 16 years after its implantation

The second-generation pericardial valve, the Carpentier-Edwards perimount bioprosthetic (CEP) valve, shows dramatically improved durability as compared to the first-generation pericardial valve, and excellent performance has been obtained, in both the aortic and mitral positions. Especially in elderly patients with an implanted CEP valve, reoperation due to structural valve deterioration (SVD) is rarely required. Here, we report the case of an 87-year-old woman with an explanted CEP valve in the mitral position due to SVD, 16 years after its implantation

The joint effect of genetic risk factors and different types of combined oral contraceptives on venous thrombosis risk

It is not known whether the synergistic effect of genetic markers, increasing the risk of venous thrombosis (VT), and combined oral contraceptives (COC) use varies between different types of progestogens in these preparations. We investigated the joint effect of genetic risk factor, that is, F5 rs6025, F2 rs1799963, and FGG rs2066865 mutations, and different progestogens on the risk of VT. The constrained maximum likelihood estimation (CMLE) method was used to calculate joint effects, expressed as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals [CI]. As the dose of estrogen is known to be a risk factor for VT, analyses were restricted to COC with 30 mu g estrogen and each progestogen. Overall, the joint effect of COC and genetic variants was lowest for COC containing the progestogen levonorgestrel, albeit CIs were wide. The OR (95% CI) of the four different analyses (i.e. joint effect with F5 rs6025, F2 rs1799963, F5 rs6025 or F2 rs1799963 and FGG rs2066865) ranged between 7 center dot 4 (5 center dot 4-10 center dot 2) and 24 center dot 8 (12 center dot 3-50 center dot 0) for levonorgestrel. For gestodene the joint effect ranged between 11 center dot 7 (7 center dot 2-19 center dot 1) and 30 center dot 9 (10 center dot 6-89 center dot 9). Desogestrel and cyproterone acetate had the highest risk estimates: 14 center dot 6 (9 center dot 7-21 center dot 9) and 32 center dot 6 (13 center dot 2-80 center dot 6) and 15 center dot 5 (9 center dot 7-24 center dot 9) and 44 center dot 4 (16 center dot 9-116 center dot 3) respectively. In women with inherited thrombophilia, COC containing levonorgestrel were associated with the lowest risk of VT, albeit the CIs were wide.Thrombosis and Hemostasi

Glucocorticoid use and risk of first and recurrent venous thromboembolism: self-controlled case-series and cohort study

Glucocorticoid treatment increases venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. Whether this is due to the medication or the underlying disease, or affects the risk of VTE recurrence, has been difficult to determine. The aim of our present study was to quantify the risk for first and recurrent VTE associated with oral glucocorticoids use, considering the underlying disease. A total of 2547 patients with VTE from the Multiple Environmental and Genetic Assessment of Risk Factors for Venous Thrombosis (MEGA) study were linked to the Dutch Pharmaceutical Statistics register. The risk of first VTE during periods of exposure with oral glucocorticoids was estimated by the self-controlled case series method and that of recurrent VTE was examined in a cohort design. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) of first VTE in the period of glucocorticoid treatment was 3 center dot 51 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2 center dot 55-4 center dot 80]. This IRR was 2 center dot 53 (95% CI 1 center dot 10-5 center dot 72) in the week before treatment started, 5 center dot 28 (95% CI 2 center dot 89-9 center dot 53) in the first 7 days of treatment, remained elevated afterwards and decreased to 1 center dot 55 (95% CI 0 center dot 85-3 center dot 12) after 6 months, as compared to unexposed periods. The hazard ratio for recurrence was 2 center dot 72 (95% CI 1 center dot 64-4 center dot 78) in treatment periods as compared with no treatment. The increased risk of VTE associated with oral glucocorticoid treatment is due to a combined effect of the treatment and the underlying disease, remaining high during the first months of prescription.Clinical epidemiolog

Does a history of smoking increase the risk of developing systemic sclerosis?: Insights from the Leiden Combined Care in Systemic Sclerosis cohort

Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease

Effectiveness of endolymphatic duct blockage versus endolymphatic sac decompression in patients with intractable Meniere's disease: study protocol for a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial

Introduction Outcomes of surgery for Meniere's disease (MD) remain discordant. Recently, a new surgical procedure in which the endolymphatic duct is clipped was proposed. To date, only one prospective trial assessing this technique was published, yielding promising results. This protocol describes a prospective, double-blinded, randomised controlled trial that will be carried out to assess the effectiveness of this surgical intervention.Methods Eighty-four patients with intractable MD will be recruited from 13 hospitals in the Netherlands. Intraoperatively, randomisation will determine whether endolymphatic duct blockage (EDB) or endolymphatic sac decompression (ESD) will be performed. Randomisation will be 1:1 stratified for gender and duration of MD (recent-onset versus mature MD). All participants receive vestibular rehabilitation after surgery. Patients are followed up during 1 year after surgery. Follow-up visits will take place at 1 week, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after surgery. The main study endpoint is proportion of patients who are free of vertigo spells at 12 months postoperatively. Secondary parameters include cumulative number of vertigo bouts, co-intervention, tinnitus, hearing, quality of life, cost effectiveness and a budget impact analysis. Total duration of the study is 4 years.Analysis The primary analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. For the primary outcome, a chi(2) test will be performed. Secondary outcomes will be analysed using a linear mixed model (EDB versus decompression group) at the different time measurement point.Ethics and dissemination This study was reviewed and approved by a board of specialists before funding was obtained, as well as by the Medical Research Ethics Committee Leiden-The Hague-Delft and the boards of all participating centres. Results of this study will be published in international peer-reviewed scientific journals and will be presented on (inter)national scientific conferences and meetings.Analysis and support of clinical decision makin

Venous Thrombosis Risk after Arthroscopy of the Knee: Derivation and Validation of the L-TRiP(ascopy) Score

Clinical epidemiolog