1.
Estimating Bleeding Risk in Patients with Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Evaluation of Existing Risk Scores and Development of a New Risk Score
de Winter MA, Dorresteijn JAN, Ageno W, Ay C, Beyer-Westendorf J, Coppens M, Klok FA, Moustafa F, Riva N, Ruiz Artacho PC, et al
Thrombosis and haemostasis. 2021
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bleeding risk is highly relevant for treatment decisions in cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT). Several risk scores exist, but have never been validated in patients with CAT and are not recommended for practice. OBJECTIVES To compare methods of estimating clinically relevant (major and clinically relevant nonmajor) bleeding risk in patients with CAT: (1) existing risk scores for bleeding in venous thromboembolism, (2) pragmatic classification based on cancer type, and (3) new prediction model. METHODS In a posthoc analysis of the Hokusai VTE Cancer study, a randomized trial comparing edoxaban with dalteparin for treatment of CAT, seven bleeding risk scores were externally validated (ACCP-VTE, HAS-BLED, Hokusai, Kuijer, Martinez, RIETE, and VTE-BLEED). The predictive performance of these scores was compared with a pragmatic classification based on cancer type (gastrointestinal; genitourinary; other) and a newly derived competing risk-adjusted prediction model based on clinical predictors for clinically relevant bleeding within 6 months after CAT diagnosis with nonbleeding-related mortality as the competing event ("CAT-BLEED"). RESULTS Data of 1,046 patients (149 events) were analyzed. Predictive performance of existing risk scores was poor to moderate (C-statistics: 0.50-0.57; poor calibration). Internal validation of the pragmatic classification and "CAT-BLEED" showed moderate performance (respective C-statistics: 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-0.66, and 0.63; 95% CI 0.58-0.68; good calibration). CONCLUSION Existing risk scores for bleeding perform poorly after CAT. Pragmatic classification based on cancer type provides marginally better estimates of clinically relevant bleeding risk. Further improvement may be achieved with "CAT-BLEED," but this requires external validation in practice-based settings and with other DOACs and its clinical usefulness is yet to be demonstrated.
2.
The effects of infusion methods on platelet count, morphology, and corrected count increment in children with cancer: in vitro and in vivo studies
Norville R, Hinds P, Wilimas J, Fairclough D, Fischl S, Kunkel K
Oncology Nursing Forum. 1994;21((10):):1669-73.
Abstract
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To determine whether infusion method influences the quality of platelets transfused. DESIGN Linked in vitro and in vivo study. Quasi-experimental design for in vitro and cross-over design with balanced randomization for in vivo. SETTING Pediatric cancer center in the midsouthern United States. SAMPLE Pheresed/pooled platelet units in vitro (n = 12). In vivo convenience sample of 26 children, ages 2-19 years, with cancer and thrombocytopenia who required platelet transfusion. METHODS Two infusion pumps (IMED 980 and Gemini, IMED Corp., San Diego, CA) versus gravity flow for in vitro platelet infusion. Gemini infusion pump versus gravity flow for in vivo platelet transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Platelet count, morphology score, and corrected count increment. FINDINGS No significant differences noted in platelet count or morphology score among or across the three infusion methods in vitro. No significant differences noted between the two infusion methods in platelet count or corrected count increment in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Although limited to a specific patient population, setting, and infusion device, findings revealed that the pump was clinically acceptable because it did not negatively affect platelet recovery. Replication of this study with other infusion devices is recommended. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Study findings validate the current nursing procedure for the administration of platelets at the study setting. Use of infusion pumps for platelet transfusions is time-efficient and energy-efficient for nurses because the pumps offer a well-controlled infusion rate, accurate volume measurement, and an alarm system for monitoring the infusion.