1.
Outcomes after Intracranial Hemorrhage in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Systematic Review of Literature
Elder T, Raghavan A, Smith A, Wright CH, Wright J, Burant C, Sajatovic M, Hoffer A
World neurosurgery. 2019
2.
Plasma D-Dimer Concentrations and Risk of Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zhou Z, Liang Y, Zhang X, Xu J, Kang K, Qu H, Zhao C, Zhao M
Frontiers in neurology. 2018;9:1114
Abstract
Background: The aim of our meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between plasma d-dimer and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Embase, Pubmed, and Web of Science were searched up to the date of March 19th, 2018, and manual searching was used to extract additional articles. Standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated to evaluate d-dimer levels. Results: Thirteen studies including 891 ICH patients and 1,573 healthy controls were included. Our results revealed that higher levels of d-dimer were displayed in ICH patients than those in healthy controls (95% CI= 0.98-2.00, p< 0.001). Subgroup analysis based on continent of Asia and Europe, sample size, as well as age in relation to d-dimer levels between ICH patients and healthy controls did not change the initial observation; whereas no differences of d-dimer levels were found between ICH and controls in America. Conclusions: This meta-analysis revealed that high level of d-dimer is associated with the risk of ICH. Plasma d-dimer is suggested to be a potential biomarker for patients with ICH in Asia and Europe rather than in America. There were no impact of sample size-related differences and age-related diversities on the risk of ICH with respect to d-dimer levels.
3.
Comparison of the efficacy and safety profiles of intravenous vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma as treatment of warfarin-related over-anticoagulation in patients with mechanical heart valves
Yiu KH, Siu CW, Jim MH, Tse HF, Fan K, Chau MC, Chow WH
The American Journal of Cardiology. 2006;97((3):):409-11.
Abstract
Patients on warfarin for mechanical heart valves are at increased risk for thromboembolic events and intracranial hemmorhage. In current guidelines, a low dose of vitamin K is the recommended treatment for moderate over-anticoagulation based on studies in which only minority patients participating had mechanical heart valves. We performed a randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety profile of low-dose intravenous vitamin K and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for patients with mechanical heart valves and mild to moderate over-anticoagulation (international normalized ratio [INR] 4 to 7). In a 24-month period, we randomized 102 patients to (1) vitamin K or (2) FFP. The baseline INR at presentation between the vitamin K group and the FFP group was 4. 61 +/- 0. 007 vs 4. 78 +/- 0. 07 (p = 0. 11). Six hours after treatment, patients in the FFP group had a significantly lower mean INR compared with the vitamin K group (2. 75 +/- 0. 06 vs 3. 44 +/- 0. 10, p = 0. 01). No patient in both groups had over-correction (INR < 2). One week later, there was no significant difference in mean INR between both groups (2. 7 +/- 0. 11 vs 2. 56 +/- 0. 12, p = 0. 41). Fifty-eight percent of patients in the FFP group and 51% in the vitamin K group had an INR within the target range. There were no adverse reactions or outcomes in both groups. In conclusion, intravenous low-dose vitamin K is a safe alternative to FFP infusion for warfarin overdose in patients with mechanical heart valves.