Subcutaneous unfractionated heparin for the initial treatment of venous thromboembolism

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

This review of 16 RCTs (n=3593; general low quality) concludes that there is no evidence of a difference between subcutaneous unfractionated heparin (UFH) and intravenous UFH or subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin for preventing recurrent clots, mortality or major bleeding.

Oral anticoagulants for primary prevention, treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolic disease, and for prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation: systematic review, network meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis

National Institute for Health Research

NOACs have advantages over warfarin in AF patients, but there was no strong evidence they should replace warfarin/low molecular weight heparin in primary prevention (PV), treatment or secondary PV of venous thromboembolism. Findings limited by lack of head to head NOAC studies.

Derivation and validation of the predicting bleeding complications in patients undergoing stent implantation and subsequent dual antiplatelet therapy (PRECISE-DAPT) score: a pooled analysis of individual-patient datasets from clinical trials

The Lancet

This paper describes PRECISE-DAPT score, a simple 5-item risk score (age, creatinine clearance, haemoglobin, white-blood-cell count, previous spontaneous bleeding), which provides a standardised tool for prediction of out-of-hospital bleeding during dual antiplatelet therapy.

Anticoagulation for pregnant women with mechanical heart valves: a systematic review and meta-analysis

European Heart Journal

Review highlights that when compared with earlier systematic review, increased use of mechanical valves with lower thrombogenic potential has not necessarily resulted in lower risk of adverse outcomes, and optimal method of anticoagulation remains undetermined in this population.

Comparative effectiveness of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis options for the patient undergoing total hip and knee replacement: a network meta-analysis

Journal of Thrombosis and Haemastasis

Relative to low-molecular-weight heparin, direct oral Xa inhibitors had a more favorable profile of venous thromboembolism and haemorrhage risk, whereas vitamin K antagonists had a less favorable profile. The profile of other agents was not more or less favourable.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of single doses of rivaroxaban in obese patients prior to and after bariatric surgery

British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Analysis of 6 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and 6 sleeve gastrectomy patients found bariatric surgery does not appear to alter pharmacokinetics of rivaroxaban in clinically relevant way. Effective prophylactic postbariatric anticoagulation is supported by changes in pharmacodynamics.

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