Treatment Decision-Making of Secondary Prevention After Venous Thromboembolism: Data From the Real-Life START2-POST-VTE Register

Patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) should receive a decision on the duration of anticoagulant treatment (AT) that is often not easy to make. Sixteen Italian clinical centers included patients with recent VTE in the START2-POST-VTE register and reported the decisions taken on duration of AT in each patient and the reasons for them. At the moment of this report, 472 (66.9%) of the 705 patients included in the registry were told to stop AT in 59.3% and to extend it in 40.7% of patients. Anticoagulant treatment lasted 653 months in >90% of patients and was extended in patients with proximal deep vein thrombosis because considered at high risk of recurrence or had thrombophilic abnormalities. d-dimer testing, assessment of residual thrombus, and patient preference were also indicated among the criteria influencing the decision. In conclusion, Italian doctors stuck to the minimum 3 months AT after VTE, while the secondary or unprovoked nature of the event was not seen as the prevalent factor influencing AT duration which instead was the result of a complex and multifactorial evaluation of each patient

Imaging features and ultraearly hematoma growth in intracerebral hemorrhage associated with COVID-19

Purpose: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is an uncommon but deadly event in patients with COVID-19 and its imaging features remain poorly characterized. We aimed to describe the clinical and imaging features of COVID-19-associated ICH. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, case-control analysis comparing ICH in COVID-19 patients (COV19\u2009+) versus controls without COVID-19 (COV19\u2009-). Clinical presentation, laboratory markers, and severity of COVID-19 disease were recorded. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) markers (intrahematoma hypodensity, heterogeneous density, blend sign, irregular shape fluid level), ICH location, and hematoma volume (ABC/2 method) were analyzed. The outcome of interest was ultraearly hematoma growth (uHG) (defined as NCCT baseline ICH volume/onset-to-imaging time), whose predictors were explored with multivariable linear regression. Results: A total of 33 COV19\u2009+\u2009patients and 321 COV19\u2009-\u2009controls with ICH were included. Demographic characteristics and vascular risk factors were similar in the two groups. Multifocal ICH and NCCT markers were significantly more common in the COV19\u2009+\u2009population. uHG was significantly higher among COV19\u2009+\u2009patients (median 6.2 mL/h vs 3.1 mL/h, p\u2009=\u20090.027), and this finding remained significant after adjustment for confounding factors (systolic blood pressure, antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy), in linear regression (B(SE)\u2009=\u20090.31 (0.11), p\u2009=\u20090.005). This association remained consistent also after the exclusion of patients under anticoagulant treatment (B(SE)\u2009=\u20090.29 (0.13), p\u2009=\u20090.026). Conclusions: ICH in COV19\u2009+\u2009patients has distinct NCCT imaging features and a higher speed of bleeding. This association is not mediated by antithrombotic therapy and deserves further research to characterize the underlying biological mechanisms

Noi refertiamo così… voi? Guida rapida per la valutazione sonologica della stenosi carotidea.

Da oltre quarant’anni si utilizzano gli ultrasuoni per rilevare una placca carotidea e per seguire nel tempo la sua evoluzione. I protocolli terapeutici hanno ridotto enormemente il suo impatto sulla salute delle persone ma la scelta fra terapia medica e chirurgica si fonda su una valutazione clinica e strumentale che è solo apparentemente semplice. Nei referti di un esame ultrasonografico riportiamo il più delle volte delle percentuali di stenosi, a volte puntuali, a volte in termini di range oppure ci esprimiamo con aggettivi che descrivono la gravità della stenosi ma spesso ci facciamo confondere dai numeri e dalle differenti modalità di calcolo del range di stenosi ed è indubbio che, a volte, le conclusioni risultano ambigue ed estremamente dipendenti dall’interpretazione dell’operatore. Il problema è che l’angiografia digitale, gold standard diagnostico per la stenosi carotidea, adotta delle metriche non del tutto riproducibili con gli ultrasuoni. Con questo documento vogliamo condividere la ricerca di un linguaggio comune, a partire dal referto dei nostri esami. Noi refertiamo così… voi

D-dimer for the diagnosis of upper extremity deep and superficial venous thrombosis

none7noBackground: D-dimer role is well established in the diagnostic work-up for lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT), however it has not been formally tested for clinically suspected upper extremity DVT and/or superficial vein thrombosis (SVT). Aim: To ascertain D-dimer diagnostic accuracy for upper extremity DVT and/or SVT. Study design: We performed a single centre management study in outpatients referred by emergency or primary care physicians for clinically suspected upper extremity DVT. All patients underwent D-dimer testing (cut-off value: <= 500 ng/mL), and a B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography examination. In case of either technical problems or anatomical barriers, ultrasonography was repeated after 5-7 days. All patients were followed up for three months for the occurrence of symptomatic DVT and/or SVT and/or pulmonary embolism. Results: We enrolled 239 patients (F: 63.6\%; mean +/- SD age: 58.3 +/- 16.8). At the initial diagnostic work-up, DVT was detected in 24 (10\%) patients while SVT in 35 (14.6\%) patients. During follow-up, one upper extremity DVT was found. D-dimer levels were higher in patients with DVT than in those without. Sensitivity and specificity of D-dimer for DVT were 92\% (95\% CI: 73-99\%) and 60\% (95\% CI: 52-67\%) respectively, with a negative predictive value of 98\% (95\% CI: 93-100\%), whereas for SVT they were 77\% (95\% CI: 59-89\%) and 60\% (95\% CI: 52-67\%) respectively, with a negative predictive value of 93\% (95\% CI: 86-97\%). Conclusions: D-dimer has a negative predictive value >= 93\% for excluding DVT in symptomatic outpatients and it can be a useful test in the diagnostic work-up of suspected upper extremity DVT. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.noneSartori, M; Migliaccio, L; Favaretto, E; Cini, M; Legnani, C; Palareti, G; Cosmi, B.Sartori, M; Migliaccio, L; Favaretto, E; Cini, M; Legnani, C; Palareti, G; Cosmi, B

Perceived pain during rapid maxillary expansion (RME): trends, anatomical distinctions, and age and gender correlations

Objectives. To investigate pain trends and characteristics of different facial districts in patients undergoing rapid maxillary expansion (RME) and its possible correlations with age and gender. Materials and Methods. 85 subjects (45 males and 40 females) undergoing RME were selected and analyzed during first two weeks of treatment. Patients rated daily two types of pain perception: the general perceived pain (GPP), i.e., the pain overall perceived in the face, and the local perceived pain (LPP), i.e., the pain perceived locally in the following anatomical areas: anterior palate (APA), posterior palate (PPA), nasal (NA), joint (JA), and zygomatic (ZA). Patients were provided the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale (FPS) to correctly assess their GPP and LPP. Pearson correlation coefficient and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were, respectively, used to define the linear relationship between all the variables considered and to verify whether the response variables (gender and age) were significantly different (α &lt; 0.05). Results. Sample's mean age was 10.11 years. Average pain values of GPP and LPP progressively rise from day 1 to days 2-3 (pain peak) and tended to decrease until day 14, with a linear decrease for GPP and a not linear decrease for LPP. PPA and APA resulted the most painful areas, followed, respectively, by JA, ZA, and NA. Statistically significant differences resulted in average pain values according to patients' age and gender, both in GPP and LPP. Conclusion. RME causes perception of pain in several maxillofacial areas. Pain reported during RME resulted positively correlated with age and gender of patients

An Integrated Care Approach to Improve Well-Being in Breast Cancer Patients

Background: Breast cancer (BC) treatment has recently been revolutionized by the introduction of newer targeted agents, that helped tailoring therapies around the single patient. Along with increased survival rates, a careful evaluation of diet, lifestyle habits, physical activity, emotional and psychological experiences linked to the treatment journey, is now mandatory. However, a true proposal for an omnicomprehensive and "integrative" approach is still lacking in literature. Methods: A scientific board of internationally recognized specialists throughout different disciplines designed a shared proposal of holistic approach for BC patients. Results: A narrative review, containing information on BC treatment, endocrinological and diet aspects, physical activity, rehabilitation, integrative medicine, and digital narrative medicine, was developed. Conclusions: In the context of a patient-centered care, BC treatment cannot be separated from a patient's long-term follow-up and care, and an organized interdisciplinary collaboration is the future in this disease's cure, to make sure that our patients will live longer and better. Trial registration: NCT05893368: New Model for Integrating Person-based Care (PbC) in the Treatment of Advanced HER2-negative Breast Cancer (PERGIQUAL). Registration date: 29th May 2023

Prevalence of pulmonary embolism among patients with recent onset of dyspnea on exertion. A cross-sectional study

Background: Exertional dyspnea is a frequently encountered complaint in clinical practice. However, the prevalence of pulmonary embolism (PE) among patients with dyspnea on exertion has not been reported. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of objectively confirmed PE among consecutive patients visiting an emergency department because of recent onset of exertional dyspnea. Methods: Patients aged <= 75 years with recent (<1 month) marked exertional dyspnea had a systematic workup for PE, irrespective of concomitant signs or symptoms of venous thromboembolism and alternative explanations for dyspnea. PE was excluded on the basis of a low pretest clinical probability and normal age -adjusted D-dimer. All other patients had computed tomography pulmonary angi-ography. An interim analysis after inclusion of 400 patients would stop recruit-ment if the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the PE prevalence had a lower limit exceeding 20%. Results: The study was prematurely terminated after the inclusion of 417 patients. In 134 patients (32.1%), PE was excluded based on low clinical probability and normal D-dimer. PE was found in 134 (47.3%) of the remaining 283 patients, for an overall prevalence of 32.1% (95% CI, 27.8-36.8). PE was present in 40 of 204 (19.6%) patients without other findings suspicious for PE and in 94 of 213 patients (44.1%) with such findings. PE involved a main pulmonary artery in 37% and multiple lobes in 87% of the patients. Conclusion: The angiographic demonstration of PE is common in patients presenting with recent onset of marked exertional dyspnea, including 20% without other findings suggesting pulmonary embolism

Fibrinogen Depletion Coagulopathy Predicts Major Bleeding After Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke: A Multicenter Study

Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) and major bleeding can be fatal complications of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for acute ischemic stroke. We investigated the impact of early fibrinogen depletion after IVT on major bleeding events

Intravenous Thrombolysis With or Without Endovascular Treatment for Suspected Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Intracranial Tumors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial neoplasms is off-label. However, data on risks of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is scarce. METHODS In a multicenter registry-based analysis within the European Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (TRISP) collaboration, we assessed frequencies of symptomatic and fatal ICH after IVT for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial tumors by descriptive statistics and analyzed associations with clinical and imaging characteristics by binary logistic regression. Definition of symptomatic ICH was based on the clinical criteria of the European Cooperative Acute Stroke-II trial including hemorrhage at any site in cranial imaging and concurrent clinical deterioration. RESULTS Screening data of 21,289 patients from 14 centers, we identified 105 patients receiving IVT, among them 29 patients (28%) with additional endovascular treatment, with suspected, i.e. imaging-based, or histologically confirmed diagnosis of intracranial tumors. Among 104 patients with CT or MRI after IVT available, symptomatic and fatal ICH were observed in nine and four patients (9% and 4%). Among 82 patients with suspected or confirmed meningioma, symptomatic and fatal ICH occurred in six and three patients (7% and 4%). In 18 patients with intra-axial suspected or confirmed primary or secondary brain tumors, there was one symptomatic nonfatal ICH (6%). Out of four patients with tumors of the pituitary region, two patients (50%) had symptomatic ICH including one fatal ICH (25%). Tumor size was not associated with occurrence of symptomatic ICH (Odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI 0.3-24.8, p=0.34). DISCUSSION In our dataset from routine clinical care, we provide insights on the safety of IVT for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial tumors, a population that is commonly withheld thrombolysis in clinical practice and prospective trials. Except for a potential high risk of symptomatic ICH after IVT in patients with tumors of the pituitary region, frequencies of symptomatic ICH in patients with intracranial tumors in our cohort appear to be in the upper range of rates observed in previous studies within the TRISP cooperation. These results may guide individual treatment decisions in patients with acute stroke and intracranial tumors with potential benefit of IVT

IV Thrombolysis With or Without Endovascular Treatment for Suspected Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Intracranial Tumors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: IV thrombolysis (IVT) for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial neoplasms is off-label. However, data on risks of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) are scarce. METHODS: In a multicenter registry-based analysis within the European Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (TRISP) collaboration, we assessed frequencies of symptomatic and fatal ICH after IVT for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial tumors by descriptive statistics and analyzed associations with clinical and imaging characteristics by binary logistic regression. Definition of symptomatic ICH was based on the clinical criteria of the European Cooperative Acute Stroke-II trial including hemorrhage at any site in cranial imaging and concurrent clinical deterioration. RESULTS: Screening data of 21,289 patients from 14 centers, we identified 105 patients receiving IVT; among them were 29 patients (28%) with additional endovascular treatment, with suspected, that is, imaging-based, or histologically confirmed diagnosis of intracranial tumors. Among 104 patients with CT or MRI after IVT available, symptomatic and fatal ICH were observed in 9 and 4 patients (9% and 4%, respectively). Among 82 patients with suspected or confirmed meningioma, symptomatic and fatal ICH occurred in 6 and 3 patients (7% and 4%), respectively. In 18 patients with intra-axial suspected or confirmed primary or secondary brain tumors, there was 1 symptomatic nonfatal ICH (6%). Of 4 patients with tumors of the pituitary region, 2 patients (50%) had symptomatic ICH including 1 fatal ICH (25%). Tumor size was not associated with the occurrence of symptomatic ICH (odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI 0.3-24.8, p = 0.34). DISCUSSION: In our dataset from routine clinical care, we provide insights on the safety of IVT for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial tumors, a population that is commonly withheld thrombolysis in clinical practice and prospective trials. Except for a potential high risk of symptomatic ICH after IVT in patients with tumors of the pituitary region, frequencies of symptomatic ICH in patients with intracranial tumors in our cohort seem to be in the upper range of rates observed in previous studies within the TRISP cooperation. These results may guide individual treatment decisions in patients with acute stroke and intracranial tumors with potential benefit of IVT