Aged ; Cross Reactions ; Female ; Heparin ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Factor 4 ; immunology ; Thrombocytopenia ; blood ; chemically induced ; immunology

Objective This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aspirin-heparin treatment for un-explained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). Methods Literatures reporting the studies on the aspirin-heparin treatment of un-explained recurrent miscarriage with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were collected from the major publication databases. The live birth rate was used as primary indicator, preterm delivery, preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia ) were used as the secondary indicators. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using RCT bias risk assessment tool in the Cochrane Handbook (v5.1.0). Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan (v5.3) software. Subgroup analyses were conducted with an appropriately combined model according to the type of the treatments if heterogeneity among the selected studies was detected. Results Six publications of RCTs were included in this study. There were a total of 907 pregnant women with diagnosis of URSA, 367 of them were pooled in the study group with aspirin-heparin therapy and 540 women in the control group with placebo, aspirin or progesterone therapy. Meta-analysis showed that the live birth rate in the study group was significantly different from that in the control group [RR = 1.18, 95% CI (1.00-1.39), P=0.04]. Considering the clinical heterogeneity among the six studies, subgroup analysis were performed. Live birth rates in the aspirin-heparin treated groups and placebo groups were compared and no significant difference was found. There were no significant differences found between the two groups in the incidence of preterm delivery [RR=1.22, 95% CI (0.54-2.76), P=0.64], preeclampsia [RR=0.52, 95% CI (0.25-1.07), P=0.08], intrauterine growth restriction [RR=1.19, 95% CI (0.56-2.52), P=0.45] and thrombocytopenia [RR=1.17, 95% CI (0.09-14.42), P=0.90]. Conclusion This meta-analysis did not provide evidence that aspirin-heparin therapy had beneficial effect on un-explained recurrent miscarriage in terms of live birth rate, but it was relatively safe for it did not increase incidence of adverse pregnancy and adverse events. More well-designed and stratified double-blind RCT, individual-based meta-analysis regarding aspirin-heparin therapy are needed in future.
Abortion, Habitual ; drug therapy ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heparin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Publication Bias

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Heparin ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Female ; Heparin ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; surgery ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced

Anticoagulation drugs should be used for patients with mechanical heart valve (MHV) in case of potential risk of thrombosis. Pregnant women with MHV have to change therapies due to teratogenic effect of some anti-coagulation drugs. European Society of Cardiology clinical guidelines for the management of cardiovascular diseases during pregnancy gives specific suggestions for anticoagulation therapy.We have treated 2 patients with mechanical heart valve thrombosis (MVT) during pregnancy: One received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) throughout the pregnancy and developed MVT at the third trimester of pregnancy; one developed MVT at the first trimester when replacing vitamin K antagonists (VKA) with LMWH. These patients raised secondary reflection on the balance between clinical guideline and personalized medicine. During LMWH therapy, we should dynamically monitor patients' anti-activated factor X (anti-Xa) level to evaluate coagulation function during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman with MHV develops symptoms of acute heart failure, stuck mechanical valve should be paid attention to and surgery should be promptly performed if necessary.
Anticoagulants/adverse effects* ; Female ; Heart Valve Prosthesis/adverse effects* ; Heart Valves ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular/drug therapy* ; Thrombosis/drug therapy*

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(ePTFE) grafts 4mm long and 1mm in diameter were implanted into the iliac artery of 100-150g male rats using standard microvascular technique. Prior to clamp removal, the cremaster muscle was isolated as an island flap based on the iliac artery and observed using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Fields which contained a bifurcation of a first order arteriole(80-100 microns diameter) into second order arteriole(50-80 microns) were chosen for observation. Platelets were labeled in vivo with acridine red to visualize and quantify the aggregates. Images of microemboli were counted manually and the area was measured by computerized planimetry. Six control grafts were implanted with no further processing, six were irrigated with heparin, and six were coated with tridodecylmethylammonium chloride(TDMAC) and heparin. Most thrombi appeared within the first five minutes after implantation in all groups. The total number of emboli observed in the control group was 91 pr animal, in the heparin irrigation group it was 84, and in the TDMAC-heparin group it was 22. The total thrombus area observed per animal was 137,660 +/- 29,467 microns 2 in the control group, 79,040 +/- 10,893 microns 2 in the heparin irrigation group, and 17,498 +/- 6,059 microns 2 in the TDMAC-heparin group (p<.01 vs control or heparin irrigation group). With this results we could find that heparin irrigation and TDMAC-heparin coating appear to reduce the number, size, and total amount of microemboli generated by ePTFE graft implantation and apparent thromboresistant property of TDMAC-heparin coating may have widespread application in many clinical and research areas and this experimental model can be used for evaluation of other graft matrials.
Ammonium Compounds/pharmacology ; Animal ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis/*adverse effects ; Heparin/pharmacology ; Male ; Microcirculation/surgery ; Polytetrafluoroethylene/adverse effects ; Rats ; Thrombosis/*etiology/prevention & control

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a distinct clinical entity that can present in the absence of specific underlying pathology or trauma and is typically associated with anticoagulation therapy. We report a case of a 74-year-old female patient with a cerebral infarction related to atrial fibrillation who developed a spontaneous lumbar arterial hemorrhage complicating heparin therapy. The diagnosis was suggested by a computed tomography scan and confirmed by angiography. She was treated successfully with transcatheter embolization.
Aged ; Anticoagulants/*adverse effects ; *Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Hemorrhage/etiology/radiography/*therapy ; Heparin/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*blood supply ; Retroperitoneal Space ; Therapeutics ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the incidence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in patients received unfractionated heparin (UFH) treatment, and explore the feasibility of monitoring HIT by platelet counts, as well as the significance of HIT-antibody test in HIT diagnosis.

METHODS145 patients received UFH treatment in Vascular Surgery Department were studied. Before and after the UFH treatment, platelet counts, HIT-antibody ELISA test and heparin-induced platelet aggregation (HIPA) were tested.

RESULTSAmong the 145 patients, thrombocytopenia occurred in 40 (27.6%) cases, HIT-antibody ELISA test positive in 59 (40.7%) cases, HIPA test positive in 26 (17.9%) cases. The HIT was diagnosed in 24 (16.5%) cases, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis (HITTS) occurred in 5 (3.4% in all cases, and 20.8% in HIT patients). In HIT patients, 15 patients (62.5%) were thrombocytopenia, HIT-antibody positive and HIPA test positive. Platelet counts in all of the 24 patients recovered to normal or level before UFH treatment in 3-6 days after heparin withdrawal therapy.

CONCLUSIONHIT can be early diagnosed by monitoring platelet counts, HIT-antibody ELISA test and HIPA test. Withdrawal of heparin therapy in time and use of alternative anticoagulant, HITTS rate might be expected to decline further.

Adult ; Aged ; Anticoagulants ; adverse effects ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Heparin ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation ; Platelet Count ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) after lumbar decompression surgery.

METHODSPatients at high or the highest risk of VTE who underwent lumbar spine surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2004 to April 2011 were included in the present study. All the patients received a half dose of LMWH 6 hours after surgery followed by a full dose LMWH once per day until discharge. We recorded incidences of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), bleeding complications, and medication side effects.

RESULTSSeventy-eight consecutive patients were eligible and enrolled in this study. The mean hospital stat was 8.5±4.5 days. No symptomatic DVT, PE, or major bleeding events were observed. One patient developed wound ecchymosis, another developed wound bleeding, four had mild hepatic aminotransferase level elevation, and one developed a suspicious allergic reaction.

CONCLUSIONLMWH may be applied as an effective and safe prophylaxis for VTE in high-risk patients undergoing lumbar decompression surgery.

Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Venous Thromboembolism ; prevention & control

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; complications ; drug therapy ; Aged ; Hematoma ; complications ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; adverse effects