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Whole-body MRI performed better than PET in the assessment of disease activity, having a higher sensitivity and specificity. The positive predictive value of whole-body MRI in the assessment of active disease was high at 88%. When used in combination and with concordant findings, PET and whole-body MRI were found to have a specificity and positive predictive value of 100%, which may be of value to clinicians assessing the effectiveness of aggressive and expensive treatment regimens.

Summary Coagulopathy occurs in most patients with (APML) and is life‐threatening; therefore prompt diagnosis and recognition of any coagulation defect is imperative. Unfortunately haemorrhage remains a major cause of early death, preventing some from reaching treatment. The coagulopathy is caused directly or indirectly by the leukaemic cells through expression of activators of coagulation and fibrinolysis, proteases and cytokine generation, compounded by failure of platelet production due to marrow invasion. At presentation the predominant feature is usually hyperfibrinolysis. Since the introduction of all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA), patient outcome has dramatically improved; yet, haemorrhagic complications remain the most frequent cause of mortality. Thrombotic complications occur but are less well recognized and potentially underreported. Supportive measures and prompt initiation of ATRA currently represent the mainstay of treatment of the coagulopathy in patients with suspected APML, but unanswered questions remain as to the optimal approach to further decrease the associated haemorrhagic and thrombotic risks. In particular, it is unclear how to best predict and monitor the coagulopathy; whether there is a role for the early use of antifibrinolytics; the most appropriate trigger for giving fibrinogen replacement and the value of low‐dose anticoagulation to suppress coagulation activation once fibrinolysis has been suppressed.

This study confirms the value of planned multidisciplinary family meetings for patients in specialist inpatient palliative care units. It identifies the often unmet needs of family members and the sustained benefits associated with formal family meetings.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a lifesaving therapy for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation. It is frequently complicated by both thrombosis and hemorrhage. A markedly prothrombotic state associated with high rates of venous thromboembolism has been described in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (coronavirus disease 2019) infection. These rates have currently not been described during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in comparison to other viral pneumonias. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Single high-volume tertiary critical care department at a university hospital. PATIENTS: Patients 16 years old or greater receiving venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020, with coronavirus disease 2019 were compared with a cohort of patients with influenza pneumonia between June 1, 2012, and May 31, 2020. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The rates of venous thromboembolism and hemorrhage were compared in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 against a historic population of patients with influenza pneumonia who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. There were 51 patients who received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation due to coronavirus disease 2019 and 80 patients with influenza. At cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, 37% of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 compared with 8% of patients with influenza had filling defects on CT pulmonary angiography (p = 0.0001). Catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis shown on ultrasound Doppler after decannulation was present in 53% with coronavirus disease 2019 versus 25% with influenza (p = 0.01). The rates of intracranial hemorrhage at the time of cannulation were 16% with coronavirus disease 2019 and 14% with influenza (p = 0.8). Elevated d-dimer levels were seen in both conditions and were significantly higher in those with pulmonary thromboembolism than those without in coronavirus disease 2019 (p = 0.02). Fibrinogen and C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in those with coronavirus disease 2019 than influenza (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Significant rates of pulmonary thromboembolism and of catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis were seen in both viral infections but were greater in those requiring the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in coronavirus disease 2019 than for influenza.

Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are prescribed for atrial fibrillation (AF) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) and both occur more frequently in obese patients. Outcomes from DOAC trials included few individuals ≥ 120 kg leading to uncertainty whether high body weight (BW) reduces DOAC concentrations. Objectives This article investigates the relationship between factor Xa (FXa) inhibitor concentrations, BW, and renal function, and compares them in high BW patients with unselected populations. Methods Consecutive patients in two United Kingdom centers, weighing ≥ 120 kg receiving 5 mg twice daily apixaban or 20 mg once daily rivaroxaban for AF or VTE were prospectively included. Peak or trough concentrations were measured using specific chromogenic assays, expressed in mean or median (5th–95th percentiles). On-therapy range was the interval from the 5th percentile trough concentration to the 95th percentile peak concentration. Results One hundred patients were included; age range: 23 to 78 years, 31% were women, 58% had AF, creatinine clearance range: 67 to 474 mL/min. Median BW was 139 kg, and 84% had body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2. DOAC peak and trough concentrations varied from 44 to 727 and 14 to 299 ng/mL, respectively. There was no linear relationship between FXa inhibitor concentrations at peak or trough and BW or BMI, and creatinine clearance. Apixaban troughs in AF and rivaroxaban peaks in VTE were lower than in unselected populations. However, only two trough concentrations were below the expected range, and 109/116 were within the on-therapy range. Conclusion These data indicated that obese or high BW patients generally achieve therapeutic FXa inhibitor concentrations. However, further investigations assessing clinical outcomes are required.

Keywords► antiphospholipid antibodies ► antiphospholipid syndrome ► obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome ► pregnancy ► hydroxychloroquine AbstractWomen with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) are at risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including recurrent first-trimester pregnancy loss and late pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and low platelet levels) syndrome, premature delivery, intrauterine growth restriction, placental abruption, and intrauterine death. Current standard care in obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome includes aspirin and heparin and has resulted in live-birth rates of approximately 70%. However, 30% continue to have pregnancy complications. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is suggested as a new treatment approach, but no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed its efficacy. This study aims to assess pregnancy outcome in women with aPL treated with HCQ versus placebo in addition to standard treatment. The HYdroxychloroquine to improve Pregnancy outcome in women with AnTIphospholipid Antibodies (HYPATIA) study is a phase IV multicenter RCT, in which pregnant women with persistent aPL will receive either HCQ or placebo in addition to their usual medication. The primary endpoint is a composite of aPL-related adverse pregnancy outcomes: one or more pregnancy loss(es) (either < 10 or > 10 weeks of gestation) and premature birth before 34 weeks due to any of the following preeclampsia, eclampsia, or recognized features of placental insufficiency. The HYPATIA study is expected to provide evidence on the effect of HCQ in pregnant women with persistent aPL.

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