The first Australasian guidelines for the diagnosis and management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been released.
Led by the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, a working group from the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Society of Australia and New Zealand developed the guidelines.
VTE, which includes deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is the third most common cardiovascular disease globally, with an annual incidence of over 10 million.
According to lead researcher Associate Professor Huyen Tran, in Australia, ate least 17,000 people develop VTE each year.
“This is a major cause of health related economic loss for the patient and the community (estimated to be 1.7% billion for Australia in 2008). It is a chronic and frequently recurrent disease.”
The major recommendations made through the guidelines was the use of Xa inhibitor, such as rivaroxaban or apixaban rather than warfarin for the treatment of acute VTE.
The study was published in the MJA and details on the recommendations can be found here
What of the serious side effects of these two drugs vs warfarin – which is well studied and all side effects known and much more easily reversed? Surely for the sake of less blood testing the new drugs aren’t worth the risk?
I would like to know if any studies have been done to assess the benefits of Enzymes over these drugs. In particular Serrapeptase which breaks down fibrin and would be useful in patients who have had extensive clots that don’t dissolve and become scar tissue within veins. Also Nattokinase which is an anticoagulant in itself. I have been trying to find information on this and feel it deserves further research. Any information you may already have would be appreciated. I have Factor V Leiden and had extensive bilateral PE’s with a saddle (June 2018) which have damaged valves in my heart. I also suffered DVT’s in both legs fron calf to thigh with no symptoms. I now have COPD Stage 2 GOLD as a result as well. I am 63..
My father a serious stoke, the effects of which were and continue to be debilitating as a consequence of one of these drugs. Unfortunately, if someone haemorrhages due to this drug, there is no antidote unlike warfarin. Where are the studies that show the morbidity and mortality as a direct consequence of these drugs?
The main aim of any treatment is to stop the DVT from breaking up and travelling so becoming a pulmonary embolism. Urgent hospitalisation is a must and the treatment is to reduce blood clotting is usually anticoagulant injections. These are anti clotting drugs like heparin and sometimes tablets called warfarin. The warfarin tablet therapy will continue for several months and regular blood tests and close medical supervision happens as well.