Safety and efficacy of treatment with vitamin K antagonists in patients managed in a network of anticoagulation services or as routine general care

This is a retrospective, record-linkage study aimed at comparing the effectiveness and safety of two management models of vitamin K antagonists: a Network model (NAS), in which anticoagulation clinics and general practitioners (GP) share the same management software and database, and an individual General Practitioners model. Main outcomes were thromboembolic events (TE), major bleeding (MB) and all-cause mortality. Crude incidence rate and sub-distribution hazard ratio were calculated. Fine and Grey models were used to calculate SHR in multi-variable analysis. 9,418 patients in the NAS and 5,508 in the Routine General Care (RGC) cohort were included. Patients in the NAS cohort had a lower incidence of TE and mortality in respect to the RGC (sHR 0.76%, 95% CI 0.64-0.90 and 0.82%, 95% CI 0.75-0.89, respectively). More patients in the NAS than in the RGC cohort attained a Time in Therapeutic Range >60% (62.2% vs 35.7%, p<0.001). No statistically significant difference was found in MB incidence. This study shows that the NAS model for vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants management significantly improves the TTR and reduces the incidence of TE and mortality, without affecting the MB rate

Circulating functional T cells specific to human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) antigens in individuals with chromosomally integrated HHV6

Circulating functional T cells specific to human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) antigens in individuals with chromosomally integrated HHV

The bone marrow represents an enrichment site of specific T lymphocytes against filamentous fungi

Bone marrow has already been described as an enrichment site for several antigen-specific T lymphocytes, but the presence of mould-specific T cells has never been investigated in the bone marrow. We have previously demonstrated that mould-specific T cells emerge in the peripheral blood of patients with invasive fungal infections (IFI) but tend to become undetectable after disease resolution. In seven patients with a history of IFI, we investigated the presence of mould-specific T cells secreting different cytokines in bone marrow and peripheral blood paired samples. The results showed that the frequencies of mould-specific T cells secreting the protective cytokine IFNI3 are significantly higher in bone marrow (BM) and are mainly represented by CD8+ T lymphocytes with effector phenotype. A putative disappearance of such protective BM responses after myeloablative therapy could contribute to the increased risk of IFI in hematologic patients

More About the Risk of Ibrutinib-associated Bleeding

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Is there a role for intervention radiology for the treatment of lower limb deep vein thrombosis in the era of direct oral anticoagulants? A comprehensive review

Despite recent advances in the treatment of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) provided by Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC), a substantial proportion of lower limb DVT patients will develop some degree of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) within 2 years. Systemic thrombolysis, although effective in reducing the risk of PTS and leg ulceration, is associated with a high risk of major bleeding, making it unsuitable for the vast majority of patients. A local approach, aimed at delivering the fibrinolytic drug directly into, or near to, the thrombus surface, is attractive because of the possibility of lowering of the administered drug dose, thus reducing the bleeding risks. However, even after the recent publication of the ATTRACT trial, only weak evidence is available about the efficacy and safety of Catheter Directed Thrombolysis (CDT), either alone (pharmacological technique) or in combination with additional endovascular approaches (pharmacomechanical technique, PMT) including percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, angioplasty with or without stenting and ultrasound-assisted CDT. The present review is aimed at providing the physicians with a comprehensive evaluation of the current evidence about this relevant topic, in order to build a reliable conceptual framework for a more appropriate use of this resource

Pregnancy in PNH: another eculizumab baby.

Pregnancy in PNH: another eculizumab baby

Randomised controlled trial comparing efficacy and safety of high versus low Low-Molecular Weight Heparin dosages in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and coagulopathy not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (COVID-19 HD): a structured summary of a study protocol

To assess whether high doses of Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) (i.e. Enoxaparin 70 IU/kg twice daily) compared to standard prophylactic dose (i.e., Enoxaparin 4000 IU once day), in hospitalized patients with COVID19 not requiring Invasive Mechanical Ventilation [IMV], are:a)more effective in preventing clinical worsening, defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following events, whichever comes first:1.Death2.Acute Myocardial Infarction [AMI]3.Objectively confirmed, symptomatic arterial or venous thromboembolism [TE]4.Need of either:a.Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (Cpap) or Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) orb.IMV in patients who at randomisation were receiving standard oxygen therapy5.IMV in patients who at randomisation were receiving non-invasive mechanical ventilationb)Similar in terms of major bleeding ris

Six-Year, Real-World Use of Prophylaxis with Recombinant Factor IX–Albumin Fusion Protein (rIX-FP) in Persons with Hemophilia B: A Single-Center Retrospective–Prospective Study

Background: Extended half-life (EHL) factor IX (FIX) concentrates allow for prophylaxis with prolonged dosing intervals and high bleeding protection in persons with hemophilia B. Long-term real-world studies are lacking. Methods: In a retrospective–prospective study, the six-year use of prophylaxis with the EHL recombinant FIX–albumin fusion protein (rIX-FP) was analyzed, comparing outcomes with previous standard half-life (SHL) FIX in patients already on prophylaxis. Results: Prophylaxis with rIX-FP was prescribed in 15 patients (10 severe, 5 moderate; follow-up: 57 ± 17 months). Based on a pharmacokinetic assessment and clinical needs, the first regimen was 47 ± 7 IU/Kg every 9 ± 2 days. All but one patient remained on rIX-FP prophylaxis, adjusting infusion frequency and/or dose; the last prescribed frequency was ≥10 days in 10/13 patients, being reduced in seven and increased in four vs. the first regimen. The weekly FIX dose was unchanged; FIX trough levels were >5% in all patients. The annual infusion number and FIX IU/Kg significantly decreased (~60%) in eight patients previously on SHL FIX prophylaxis, with similar concentrate costs. Very low bleeding rates (most traumatic bleeds and the last quartile of the infusion interval), improved orthopedic and pain scores, unchanged HEAD-US scores and problem joints, and high treatment adherence (>90%) and satisfaction were registered. Conclusions: Personalized, carefully adjusted rIX-FP regimens contribute to the diffusion and optimization of prophylaxis in persons with severe and moderate hemophilia B, with long-term favorable bleeding, joint, and patient-reported outcomes

An unusual case of B-ALL occurring in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia in remission after two hematopoietic SCTs: whose are the leukemic cells?

We read with interest the recent article by Shiozaki H, et al. (Bone Marrow Transplant 2014; 49: 102–109) reporting a case of donor cell leukemia (DCL) occurring in a patient who previously underwent cord blood (CB) transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome and describing the clinical and biological differences between DCL arising after hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) from either CB or BM sources. We would like to comment on these issues, reporting an unusual case of DCL in a patient with a long history of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)

Safety profile of Erwinia asparaginase treatment in adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective monocenter study

Safety profile of Erwinia asparaginase treatment in adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia: a retrospective monocenter study