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: Stephan Moll

  • Low Molecular Weight Heparins – Osteoporosis?

    Occasionally, a patient is treated with long-term low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) (enoxaparin = Lovenox®; Dalteparin = Fragmin®; Tinzaparin = Innohep®) for months or years. LMWH may be given because the patient (a) tolerated warfarin poorly (widely fluctuating INRs; significant side-effects, such as marked hair loss or fatigue), (b) had a recurrent clot which occured on warfarin with…

  • Hair Loss on Warfarin

    How common is it? Hair loss is a known side effect of warfarin (Coumadin®, Jantoven®), but has hardly been studied [ref 1]. Solid data on how frequently it occurs, on its time-course, and on treatments are  not available. Mild hair loss appears to be common, severe hair loss uncommon, complete hair loss has not been…

  • Apixaban (Eliquis): Another New Oral “Blood Thinner”

    Good news. Another one of the new oral “blood thinners” in development,  Apixaban (Eliquis®), has moved forward. On May 23rd, 2011 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Eliquis® for marketing in the 27 countries of the European Community for DVT prevention after orthopedic surgery (hip and knee replacement). In the U.S., Eliquis® is not yet FDA approved, and still…

  • What Causes Clots? – A Family Study

    Background It is known that the risk for blood clots in the leg (DVT) and lung (PE) is partly inherited. Some genes that increase the risk for DVT and PE are known (e.g. factor V Leiden, the factor II 20210 mutation, protein, protein C, S and antithrombin mutations). However, it is suspected that many other and,…

  • Athletes and Blood Clots

    Many people think of blood clots as a problem occurring in elderly people, but not in young and apparently healthy individuals. While it is true that clots occur more commonly in the elderly and in non-athletic overweight individuals, they can, nevertheless, happen in young, normal weight, and athletic people.

  • Testosterone and Blood Clots

    Testosterone Replacement Therapy Replacement therapy with low doses of testosterone does not adversely affect blood coagulation status [ref 1] and does not appear to increase the risk of venous or arterial blood clots. Thrombosis is not listed as a potential side effect in a commly used drug compendium (Micromedex). Furthermore, the 2006 “Clinical Practice Guideline”…

  • HHT

    What is HHT? HHT (Hereditary Hemorrhagic Teleangiectasia) is an inherited disorder in which small blood vessels develop abnormally [ref 1].  It is also called Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome. It is estimated that 30,000 to 60,000 people (1 out every 5,000 to 10,000) in the United States have it. Individuals with HHT develop small abnormal blood vessels (teleangiectasias)…

  • New DVT – Optimizing Treatment – ATTRACT Trial

    If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed in the last 14 days with a new DVT of the leg (thigh or pelvic veins), I would encourage you to consider participation in the ATTRACT trial – a solid, clinically useful study (NIH funded) that investigates how to minimize the long-term complications after a blood clot –…