BackgroundPatients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) secondary to transient risk factors may develop VTE recurrences after discontinuing anticoagulation. Identifying at‐risk patients could help to guide the duration of therapy.MethodsWe used the RIETE database to assess the prognostic value of d‐dimer testing after discontinuing anticoagulation to identify patients at increased risk for recurrences. Transient risk factors were classified as major (postoperative) or minor (pregnancy, oestrogen use, immobilization or recent travel).ResultsIn December 2018, 1655 VTE patients with transient risk factors (major 460, minor 1195) underwent d‐dimer measurements after discontinuing anticoagulation. Amongst patients with major risk factors, the recurrence rate was 5.74 (95% CI: 3.19–9.57) events per 100 patient‐years in those with raised d‐dimer levels and 2.68 (95% CI: 1.45–4.56) in those with normal levels. Amongst patients with minor risk factors, the rates were 7.79 (95% CI: 5.71–10.4) and 3.34 (95% CI: 2.39–4.53), respectively. Patients with major risk factors and raised d‐dimer levels (n = 171) had a nonsignificantly higher rate of recurrences (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.14; 95% CI: 0.96–4.79) than those with normal levels. Patients with minor risk factors and raised d‐dimer levels (n = 382) had a higher rate of recurrences (HR: 2.34; 95% CI: 1.51–3.63) than those with normal levels. On multivariate analysis, raised d‐dimers (HR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.09–2.77) were associated with an increased risk for recurrences in patients with minor risk factors, not in those with major risk factors.ConclusionsPatients with raised d‐dimer levels after discontinuing anticoagulant therapy for VTE provoked by a minor transient risk factor were at an increased risk for recurrences.
The association between elevated liver enzymes or FIB-4 (fibrosis index 4) and outcome in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not been evaluated. Data from patients in RIETE (
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mbólica) were used to assess the association between elevated liver enzymes or FIB-4 levels and the rates of major bleeding or death in apparent liver disease-free patients with acute VTE under anticoagulation therapy. A total of 6206 patients with acute VTE and without liver disease were included. Of them, 92 patients had major bleeding and 168 died under anticoagulation therapy. On multivariable analysis, patients with elevated liver enzymes were at increased mortality risk (HR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.10–2.28), while those with FIB-4 levels > 2.67 points were at increased risk for major bleeding (HR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.04–2.74). Evaluation of liver enzymes and FIB-4 index at baseline in liver disease-free patients with VTE may provide additional information on the risk for major bleeding or death during anticoagulation.
Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11739-021-02858-x.
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