This document summarizes guidelines for antithrombotic therapy for venous thromboembolism from the 10th edition of the CHEST guidelines. It recommends non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants over warfarin for VTE treatment and prevention in patients without cancer. For patients with cancer, it recommends low molecular weight heparin over other anticoagulants. It provides dosing and monitoring recommendations for the different anticoagulant options. It also addresses duration of therapy, management of recurrent VTE, and specific situations like subsegmental pulmonary embolism.
2. VENOUS
THROMBOEMBOLISM
DVT: blood clot formed in a vein that partially or
completely blocks circulation
PE: obstruction of the pulmonary artery or one
of its branches by material that originated
elsewhere in the body (thrombus)
Causes: Virchow’s triad
Alterations in blood flow (stasis)
Vascular endothelial injury
Hypercoagulable state
Malignancy, Factor V Leiden mutation, protein S
deficiency, protein C deficiency, antiphospholipid
antibodies, IBD, pregnancy
3. Clinical Presentation
DVT
Unilateral extremity swelling, discoloration, pain,
tenderness
PE
SOB
Chest pain
Tachypnea
Tachycardia
Hypotension (hemodynamically unstable or massive PE)
SBP <90 mmHg for a period >15 minutes, or requires
vasopressors or inotropic support
http://www.dvtforum.com/index.asp?action=start
4. Diagnosis
D-dimer
Degradation product of fibrin clot
Sensitive but not specific
Radiographic contrast studies – venography, pulmonary angiography
Gold standard
Most accurate and reliable
Expensive and invasive
Ultrasound
Less invasive
7. Choice of Anticoagulant
DVT/PE and no cancer (Grade 2B)
Recommend dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, or edoxaban over VKA therapy, and
VKA therapy over LMWH
DVT/PE and cancer (Grade 2C)
Recommend LMWH over dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, or VKA
therapy
No need to change the choice of anticoagulant after the first 3 months of
therapy (Grade 2C)
NOAC > VKA > LMWH
Cancer = LMWH
8. NOAC evidence
4 new RCTs and extensive clinical experience
Risk reduction similar between NOACs and VKA
Risk reduction greater with LMWH than VKA in patients with cancer
Risk reduction seems to be similar between all NOACs
No direct comparison
Risk of bleeding less with NOACs than VKA
GI bleeding may be higher, though
Risk may be less with apixaban
Risk of fatal bleeding similar between VKA and NOACs
Conclusion, less bleeding and greater convenience with NOACs
9. Parenteral Anticoagulation Dosing
UFH
80 U/kg IV bolus followed by 18 U/kg/hr
5000U IV bolus followed by 1000 U/hr
Enoxaparin
1 mg/kg SQ Q12H
1.5 mg/kg SQ QD
CrCl < 30: 1 mg/kg SQ Q24H
Fondaparinux
< 50kg: 5mg SQ QD
50-100kg: 7.5mg SQ QD
> 100kg: 10mg SQ QD
Tinzaparin
175 U/kg SQ QD
CrCl < 30: use with caution
Nadroparin
171 U/kg SQ QD
CrCl 30-50: reduce dose by 25-33%
CrCl < 30: CI
Dalteparin – off-label
10. Oral Anticoagulation Therapy
Vitamin K Antagonist - warfarin
Started on day 1 or 2 of parenteral anticoagulation
Maintain overlap for at least 5 days and INR therapeutic for 48 hours
INR goal = 2-3
Many diet, drug, and disease interactions
OR
NOAC – rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, dabigatran
Preferred VTE treatment
11. Rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
Dosing
DVT/PE treatment: 15mg BID x 21 days followed by 20mg QD
Take with food
Extremes in weight do not influence
Does not require parenteral anticoagulation prior to initiation
Reduction in risk of recurrence: 20mg QD
Renal and hepatic impairment
CrCl < 30: avoid use
Moderate-severe hepatic impairment: avoid use
13. Apixaban (Eliquis)
Dosing
DVT treatment: 10mg BID x 7 days followed by 5mg BID
Does not require parenteral anticoagulation prior to initiation
Reduction in risk of recurrence: 2.5mg BID after at least 6 months of DVT
treatment
Renal impairment
CrCl < 30: use with caution
Under nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
≥ 80 yoa AND weighs ≤ 60kg or SCR ≥ 1.5 reduce dose by 50%
Hepatic impairment
Moderate: use with caution
Severe: not recommended
18. Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
Dosing
DVT/PE treatment/prevention: 150mg BID
After 5-10 days of parenteral anticoagulation
Take with full glass of water
Dispense in original container
Discard 4 months after opening
Renal
CrCl < 50 and concomitant P-gp: 75mg BID
CrCl ≤ 30: dose not provided
Non-valvular a fib with CrCl 15-30: 75mg BID
If with P-gp, avoid
CrCl < 15: not studied, CI per CHEST
Hepatic
Severe impairment: avoid
19. Dabigatran (Pradaxa)
Characteristics
ADR
Bleeding/thrombosis
Spinal/epidural hematoma
GI upset
DDI
P-gp inhibitor
Pregnancy C
d/c 1-2 days or 3-5 days (CrCl < 50)
before surgery
Reversal
Idarucizumab (Praxbind)
5g dose (2 2.5g vials)
Give within 15 mins
Dialyzable
20. NOAC Comparison
NOAC Parenteral
needed
Weight adj DDI Reversal Unique
Rivaroxaban No No 3A4, P-gp No Take with food
Apixaban No ~ No 3A4, P-gp No Pregnancy B
Edoxaban Yes Yes P-gp No CrCl > 95:
avoid
Dabigatran Yes No P-gp Praxbind,
dialyzable
GI upset
21. Thrombophilia
Recommended treatment: UFH or LMWH followed by VKA
Sufficient data not available regarding safety and efficacy of NOACs in patients
with thrombophilia
RAPS: rivaroxaban vs enoxaparin with warfarin in APS
Antithrombin deficiency
Heparin resistance – need larger doses
Not as much AT for heparin to reduce
Protein C deficiency
Warfarin-induced skin necrosis
22. Duration of Anticoagulant Therapy
Active treatment = 3-6 months
Secondary prophylaxis
Primary risk factor – provoked vs unprovoked
Provoked by transient/reversible risk factor = lowest risk of recurrence
3 months
Unprovoked/unidentifiable = moderately high risk of recurrence
Base duration of therapy on secondary risk factors and bleeding risk
Provoked by progressive/persistent factor = highest risk of recurrence
Indefinite therapy
Secondary risk factors – location and history
Second episode = indefinite therapy
UE or isolated distal (unprovoked or transient provoked) = 3 months
Indefinite therapy
only recommend in
low-moderate
bleeding risk!
23. Management of Recurrent VTE on
Anticoagulant Therapy
Unusual occurrence so reevaluate:
Diagnosis
Compliance
Underlying malignancy
If occurs while on therapeutic VKA or NOAC therapy, suggest switching to
LMWH therapy at least temporarily
At least 1 month
If occurs while on long-term LMWH, suggest increasing dose by 1/4 -1/3
24. Aspirin for Extended Treatment of VTE
“In patients with an unprovoked proximal DVT or PE who are stopping
anticoagulant therapy and do not have a contraindication to aspirin, we
suggest aspirin over no aspirin to prevent recurrent VTE (Grade 2B).”
Not a reasonable alternative
80% reduction vs 30%
Additional indications
25. Systemic Thrombolytic Therapy for PE
Suggested indications for thrombolytic use
PE associated with hypotension
Acute PE that deteriorates after starting anticoagulant therapy
Suggest using a peripheral vein over catheter-directed thrombolysis
Only use if low risk of bleeding!
If massive PE with high bleeding risk, failed systemic thrombolysis, or
shock, suggest catheter-assisted thrombus removal
Only if appropriate expertise and resources available
26. Compression Stockings to Prevent PTS
“In patients with acute DVT of the leg, we suggest not using compression
stockings routinely to prevent PTS (Grade 2B)”
Post-thrombotic syndrome: chronic complication of DVT resulting in chronic
venous insufficiency
Larger RCT showed no benefit
A trial of compression stockings may be tried for s/s associated with PTS
27. Whether to Anticoagulate
Subsegmental PE
Subsegmental PE: no involvement of the more proximal pulmonary arteries
Low risk of recurrent VTE clinical surveillance
As long as no DVT also present
More likely a false positive or arose from a small DVT
High risk of recurrent VTE anticoagulation
Evaluate bleeding risk
28. Treatment of Acute PE Out of the
Hospital
“In patients with low-risk PE and whose home circumstances are adequate,
we suggest treatment at home or early discharge over standard discharge
(Grade 2B).”
Standard discharge: after first 5 days of treatment
29. Summary
Non-Cancer: NOAC > VKA > LMWH
Cancer: LMWH
Recurrent: Switch to LMWH or increase LMWH dose
ASA: consider upon anticoagulant d/c
Thrombolytic: only in massive or deteriorating PE
Compression stockings: do not routinely use
Subsegmental: base therapy on risk
30. References
DiPiro JT, Talbert RL, Yee GC, et. al. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic
Approach, Ninth Edition.
Kearon C, Akl EA, Comerota AJ, et al. Antithrombotic therapy for VTE disease:
Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 10th ed: American
College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest
2016;149(2):315-352.
Kearon C, Akl EA. Duration of anticoagulant therapy for deep vein thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism. Blood 2014; 123(12):1794-1801.
Lexi-Drugs. Lexicomp Online. Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Hudson, OH.
Available at: http://online.lexi.com. Accessed February 4, 2016.
Bauer KA. Management of inherited thrombophilia. UpToDate. Wolters Kluwer
Health, Inc. Hudson, OH. Available at:
http://www,uptodate.com/contents/management-of-inherited-thrombophilia
Recommended for cancer treatment and required prior to starting some of the oral anticoagulants
Fairly easy dosing
Complicated dosing
No change but more evidence. Cancer – continue for 3 months after cancer-free
Addition
New addition: Asa therapy may be beneficial in patients who d/c anticoagulant therapy if no Cis. But better than nothing. Use of aspirin should also be reevaluated when patients stop anticoagulant therapy because aspirin may have been stopped when anticoagulants were started.
Revision, more clarification
Deterioration – tachycardia, BP decrease, worsening gas exchange, shock, cardiac markers
More evidence supporting systemic than CDT