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: Venous clots

  • Acute DVT/ PE and Airline Travel

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… Can the patient with acute DVT or PE safely fly, or should he/she wait for a few weeks before embarking on airline travel?  It appears safe to fly early: There is no evidence that flying early after the diagnosis of VTE leads to an increased risk of recurrent VTE or embolization…

  • IVC Filters, May-Thurner Syndrome, Pelvic Vein Stents

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… An article for patients discussing (a) IVC filters, (b) narrowing of the main left pelvic vein (May-Thurner syndrome) and (c) pelvic venous stents has just been published (http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/133/6/e383.full.pdf).  Color images of anatomy, filters and stents are included as visual aids.  The article may be helpful as handout material for patients in…

  • Thrombophilia – Information Handout for Patients

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… An information article on various aspects of thrombophilia, written for patients and family members, was published today – available here – as a Vascular Disease Patient Information Page in the journal Vascular Medicine.  It addresses (a) in which patient with venous thromboembolism to consider thrombophilia  testing, (b) what tests might be appropriate to do, (c) how the test results…

  • Two Things Physicians Should Avoid

    Stephan Moll, MD writes (Dec 17, 2014)…  The American Society of Hematology (ASH) published last week as part of its Choosing Wisely® campaign two things that physicians dealing with DVT, PE and anticoagulants should avoid [ref 1].

  • Catheter-Associated DVT of Arm and Neck in Cancer Patients: ISTH Guidance

    Stephan Moll, MD writes… This week (Feb 18th, 2014) a guidance document on the prevention and management of catheter-associated upper extremity (brachial, axillary, subclavian, and brachiocephalic veins) and neck (internal jugular) DVT was published by the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) [ref 1].  The authors acknowledge that optimal long-term management of catheter-associated DVT has…

  • Handout for Your Patients in Clinic – Which Anticoagulant to Use for DVT and PE

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  Patients who are on warfarin for a history of DVT or PE  may inquire whether a switch to one of the  new oral anticoagulants is appropriate.  Similarly, many physicians initiate this discussion with their patients. This is, obviously, a detailed discussion and an individualized decision with a number of factors to be considered.…

  • Pulmonary Hypertension due to PE: New Drug Approved

     Stephan Moll, MD writes… On Oct 8th, 2013 the FDA approved Adempas® (riociguat), a new oral drug to treat pulmonary hypertension.  The drug is a guanylate cyclase stimulator that leads to arteries dilatation. It is intended for: Patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)

  • International Coagulation Meeting (ISTH 2013): Highlights

    Stephan Moll, MD writes…  A major international coagulation conference, the bi-annual meeting of the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH; http://www.isth.org), took place in Amsterdam, Holland, from June 29th to July 4th, 2013.  The clinically relevant highlights about thrombosis and anticoagulation are summarized below.