1.
Effects of low molecular weight heparin and fondaparinux on mortality, hemorrhagic and thrombotic complications in COVID-19 patients
Fragkou PC, Palaiodimou L, Stefanou MI, Katsanos AH, Lambadiari V, Paraskevis D, Andreadou E, Dimopoulou D, Zompola C, Ferentinos P, et al
Therapeutic advances in neurological disorders. 2022;15:17562864221099472
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with increased thrombosis prevalence. However, there are insufficient data supporting the appropriate anticoagulation dose in COVID-19. OBJECTIVE We aim to systematically assess the currently available data regarding the effects of different dosing regimens of low molecular weight heparin and/or fondaparinux (LMWH/F) on mortality risk as well as the risk of arterial/venous thrombotic events and hemorrhagic complications in confirmed COVID-19 cases. DESIGN We conducted a living systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of different LMWH/F doses on mortality, thrombotic and hemorrhagic events in COVID-19 patients. DATA SOURCES AND METHODS MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, Cochrane COVID-19 study register, European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to detect observational cohort studies and randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs) comparing difference doses of LMWH/F among confirmed COVID-19 cases. RESULTS Thirty-one eligible studies (6 RCTs and 25 cohort studies) with 11,430 hospitalized patients were included. No association was found between LMWH/F and mortality during the following comparisons: (1) no LMWH/F versus any LMWH/F; (2) prophylactic versus higher than prophylactic LMWH/F; (3) prophylactic versus therapeutic LMWH/F; (4) intermediate versus therapeutic LMWH/F; and (5) lower than therapeutic versus therapeutic LMWH/F. Mortality was higher in patients receiving prophylactic versus intermediate LMWH/F (OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.19-3.39). However, this effect was mostly driven by observational data. No associations were detected between the intensity of LMWH/F and the risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic events, except the lower risk for hemorrhage in patients on prophylactic compared to higher LMWH/F doses. CONCLUSION The risk for all-cause mortality was higher in patients receiving prophylactic LMWH/F compared to those on an intermediate dose of LMWH/F, based on observational data. These results should be interpreted in light of the moderate quality and heterogeneity of the included studies. REGISTRATION The study protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42021229771).
2.
Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis and Thrombotic Events After Vector-Based COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Palaiodimou L, Stefanou MI, Katsanos AH, Aguiar de Sousa D, Coutinho JM, Lagiou P, Michopoulos I, Naska A, Giannopoulos S, Vadikolias K, et al
Neurology. 2021
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES There is accumulating evidence supporting an association between the "thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome" (TTS) and adenovirus vector-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Yet, TTS and TTS-associated cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) remain poorly characterized. We aim to systematically evaluate the proportion of CVST among TTS cases and assess its characteristics and outcomes. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials, cohorts, case series and registry-based studies with the aim to assess (1) the pooled mortality rate of CVST, TTS-associated CVST, and TTS and (2) the pooled proportion of patients with CVST among patients with any thrombotic event and TTS. Secondary outcomes comprised clinical characteristics of patients with post-vaccination thrombotic event. This meta-analysis is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and was written according to the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology proposal. RESULTS Sixty-nine studies were included in the qualitative analysis comprising 370 patients with CVST out of 4182 patients with any thrombotic event associated with SARS-CoV-2 vector-based vaccine administration. Twenty-three studies were further included in quantitative meta-analysis. Among TTS cases, the pooled proportion of CVST was 51% (95%CI:36-66%; I(2)=61%). TTS was independently associated with a higher likelihood of CVST, when compared to non-TTS patients with thrombotic events after vaccination (OR:13.8; 95%CI:2.0-97.3; I(2)=78%). The pooled mortality rates of TTS and TTS-associated CVST were 28% (95%CI:21-36%) and 38% (95%CI:27-49%), respectively. Thrombotic complications developed within 2 weeks of exposure to vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (mean interval:10 days; 95%CI:8-12) and affected predominantly women (69%, 95%CI:60-77%), under the age of 45, even in the absence of pro-thrombotic risk factors. DISCUSSION Approximately one half of TTS cases present with CVST, while almost one third of TTS patients do not survive. Further research is required to identify independent predictors of TTS following adenovirus vector-based vaccination. REGISTRATION The pre-specified study protocol has been registered in the International Prospective Register of Ongoing Systematic Reviews PROSPERO (CRD42021250709).