Direct oral anticoagulants in the treatment and long-term prevention of venous thrombo-embolism
This article reviews direct oral anticoagulants (e.g. apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban) under the following topic headings: Acute and long-term treatment of VTE; Extended treatment of VTE; Lessons from the developmentprogrammes for these drugs; and practical considerations.
http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/02/06/eurheartj.ehu027.abstract
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists for preventing recurrent stroke and other vascular events in patients with stroke or transient ischaemic attack
PPAR- agonists were found to reduce recurrent stroke and total events of CV death, non-fatal MI or non-fatal stroke, and improve insulin sensitivity and stabilisation of carotid plaques, but findings should be interpreted cautiously due to small number and quality of the studies.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD010693.pub2/full
Point-of-care coagulometers (the CoaguChek XS system and the INRatio2 PT/INR monitor) in people on long-term vitamin K
antagonist therapy who have atrial fibrillation or heart valve disease: diagnostics consultation document
Draft guidance from NICE's Diagnostics Assessment Programme on two technologies for self-monitoring the clotting of blood in people on long term anticoagulation therapy has been issued for public consultation.
http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/14091/66497/66497.pdf
Aspirin versus vitamin K antagonist treatment guided by transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation: a pilot study
The results of this study (n=238) suggest that transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) may help to refine stroke risk and guide antithrombotic treatment choice (VKA or aspirin) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Further research is however required.
http://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2014/01/30/heartjnl-2013-305017.abstract
Ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis for acute pulmonary embolism: a systematic review
The authors of this review discuss catheter-based revascularisation for PE and ultrasound-assisted thrombolysis and present and discuss the results of seven studies (n=197) of ultrasound-assisted catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for PE (only one small RCT).
http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/02/03/eurheartj.ehu029.abstract
Media hype blood clot risk of birth control pills
This 'Behind the Headlines' assessment discusses the risk of venous thromboembolism associated with use of combined oral contraceptives
(following the recent European review) and comments that the UK media overhyped the potential risk in their reporting.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2014/02February/Pages/Media-hype-blood-clot-risk-of-birth-control-pills.aspx
The above records have been identified by UKMi and feature in the NICE Medicines Awareness Service.
Further details on this service can be found at: http://www.evidence.nhs.uk/about-evidence-services/content-and-sources/medicines-information/new-medicines-awareness-services
