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

Category: Uncategorized

  • Pregnancy and Venous Thromboembolism: Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment

    A new guideline about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of DVT and PE associated with pregnancy was published today by ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) in its respected series of Practice Bulletins.  The bulletin includes detailed reference to thromboprophylaxis in pregnant women with thrombophilia.

  • Tattoos on Anticoagulants

    At times, patients on anticoagulants are considering getting a tattoo.  I am not aware of any medical publication assessing the amount of bleeding with tattooing on warfarin or other anticoagulants.

  • Thrombophilia and Insurance

    Liz Varga, Certified Genetic Counselor, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus OH writes…. Some patients or their family members may be concerned about genetic testing for thrombophilias for fear of genetic discrimination.  Fortunately in the United States, laws are in place that can alleviate this concern. 

  • Prescription Assistance: When Patients Can’t Afford a Medication

    Beth Waldron, Program Director of the Clot Connect project, writes…. While the cost of some outpatient anticoagulation therapies can be substantial, failure to take an anticoagulant medication as prescribed can have serious, even deadly, consequences.   Links to resources which may help patients when they are prescribed an anticoagulant that they cannot afford is available in this article.…

  • Thrombosis and Hemostasis Conference 2012

    A major North American thrombosis & hemostasis  conference will take place May 3-5, 2012, in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency.  This meeting is mostly geered towards health care professionals of various specialties  interested in and taking care of patients with thrombotic and bleeding disorders.  It will provide state-of -the-art clinical management updates and relevant research developments, as well…

  • Savaysa (Edoxaban): New Oral Anticoagulant

    Edoxaban (Savaysa®), the 4th of the big new oral anticoagulants in development (the other big 3 being Dabigatran = Pradaxa, Rivaroxaban = Xarelto, and Apixaban = Eliquis), is now commercially available in Japan (July 19th, 2011 press release here), available as once daily dosing for VTE prevention after orthopedic surgeries (hip and knee replacement and…

  • LMWH Injections – Making it Easier: Insuflon Ports

    Once or twice daily injections of s.c. anticoagulants for prolonged periods of time can be bothersome and unacceptable for the patient. Use of a once weekly exchanged s.c. port, called Insuflon, can make longer-term s.c. anticoagulant therapy easier and more tolerable.

  • Postpartum – Safe Contraceptive Methods

    The CDC today published recommendations on use of contraceptive methods for non-breast feeding women in the post-partum period (full text is here).  The key recommendations are as follows: