1.Updated recommendations for the treatment of venous thromboembolism
Junshik HONG ; Seo-Yeon AHN ; Yoo Jin LEE ; Ji Hyun LEE ; Jung Woo HAN ; Kyoung Ha KIM ; Ho-Young YHIM ; Seung-Hyun NAM ; Hee-Jin KIM ; Jaewoo SONG ; Sung-Hyun KIM ; Soo-Mee BANG ; Jin Seok KIM ; Yeung-Chul MUN ; Sung Hwa BAE ; Hyun Kyung KIM ; Seongsoo JANG ; Rojin PARK ; Hyoung Soo CHOI ; Inho KIM ; Doyeun OH ; On behalf of the Korean Society of Hematology Thrombosis and Hemostasis Working Party
Blood Research 2021;56(1):6-16
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, is a condition characterized by abnormal blood clot formation in the pulmonary arteries and the deep venous vasculature. It is often serious and sometimes even fatal if not promptly and appropriately treated. Moreover, the later consequences of VTE may result in reduced quality of life. The treatment of VTE depends on various factors, including the type, cause, and patient comorbidities. Furthermore, bleeding may occur as a side effect of VTE treatment. Thus, it is necessary to carefully weigh the benefits versus the risks of VTE treatment and to actively monitor patients undergoing treatment. Asian populations are known to have lower VTE incidences than Western populations, but recent studies have shown an increase in the incidence of VTE in Asia. A variety of treatment options are currently available owing to the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants.The current VTE treatment recommendation is based on evidence from previous studies, but it should be applied with careful consideration of the racial, genetic, and social characteristics in the Korean population.