A Clearinghouse for Information about Blood Clots (DVT/)PE) and Clotting Disorders (thrombophilia) provided as a public service by the University of North Carolina Blood Research Center

Author: Clot Connect

  • New Publication: Eliquis (Apixaban) is Effective and Safe in DVT and PE

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…   An important study (AMPLIFY trial) was published today in the New England Journal of Medicine [ref 1]: In a large study of 5395 patients with acute DVT or PE, Eliquis (apixaban) was as effective as warfarin and caused less major bleeding.

  • Skyla – A New IUD, Suitable for Women at Risk for DVT and PE

    Dr. Stephan Moll writes… Skyla® is a new IUD (intrauterine device) contraceptive, approved in February 2013 by the FDA.  Skyla® is like a small version of the Mirena® IUD.  It has the following features:

  • Difficulty in Diagnosing Recurrent DVT – Clinical Guidance

    Stephan Moll, MD writes….  Recurrent DVT can be challenging to diagnose, as it may be difficult on Doppler ultrasound to tell chronic changes from additional new clot.  A guidance statement from the ISTH (International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis) published this week (May 18th, 2013) provides solid, clinically useful, evidence-based recommendations

  • New Clinical-Practical Textbook on Hemostasis and Thrombosis

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…. Freshly published just now (May 2013), the 3rd edition of the very clinical-practical Consultative Hemostasis and Thrombosis textbook edited by Kitchens, Kessler & Konkle – link here.  822 pages, 47 chapters on bleeding and clotting disorders, diagnosis, management.  Suitable for whom?  Useful as a reference for all practicing physicians and midlevel providers who…

  • Antidote for New Oral Xa-Inhibitors (Eliquis, Xarelto): Phase 2 Study

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…. The pharmaceutical company Portola reported today (May 8th, 2013) without many details on the  findings of their phase 2 human volunteer study of their anti-Xa anticoagulant antidote PRT4445 — ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01758432 (study description here). In this study, healthy volunteers who had taken Eliquis (Apixaban) received the antidote.  The study showed a “rapid and sustained and dose-related reversal of the…

  • Natural supplements, herbs, vitamins and food: do any prevent venous thromboembolism?

    Patients not infrequently inquire about the benefit of “natural blood thinners”. Clot Connect has written a document for patients – available here  – discussing the various herbs and dietary supplements that are often called “natural blood thinners”. The blog post discusses many items including garlic, gingko, chocolate, fish oil, vitamin D, vitamin E, etc. The…

  • FDA Approval of New Drug to Treat Major Bleeding on Warfarin – Kcentra

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  A new drug for the urgent reversal of warfarin was approved by the FDA today, April 29th, 2013 (announcement by the FDA is here), called Kcentra.  The drug is derived from pooled plasma from healthy blood donors and contains the coagulation factors that are low in warfarin-treated patients, i.e. factors II, VII,…

  • Thrombophilia Testing – Reliable on Anticoagulants?

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  The decision how long to treat a patient with venous thromboembolism (VTE) with anticoagulants can often be made based on the patient’s history alone, i.e. the circumstances of the VTE event (provoked versus unprovoked).  Often, no thrombophilia testing is needed.  However, if one were to do thrombophilia testing, what is the…