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

Tag: PE

  • Aspirin – Does it Prevent DVT and PE?

    To some degree it does, but it is by far not as effective as warfarin or other anticoagulants. However, a very noteworthy study was presented today

  • Another New Blood Thinner FDA Approved : Xarelto (Rivaroxaban)

    Today the FDA approved Xarelto (Rivaroxaban) for irregular heart beat (= atrial fibrillation = a. fib).  The approved dose is 20 mg once daily.  The link to the FDA press release is here.  The Xarelto prescribing information can be found here. Xarelto for Blood Clots in the Veins (DVT and PE)

  • Yasmin, Yaz and Other Drospirenone Contraceptives: Risk for VTE

    It has long been known that estrogen-containing birth control preparations (pill, patch, ring) increase the risk for DVT and PE (venous thromboembolism = VTE).  This risk is partially due to the estrogen.  However, part of the risk is also due to the type of progestin in these preparations.

  • Nattokinase

    Your patient may inquire whether he/she can take Nattokinase instead of staying on warfarin to prevent future venous thromboembolism; or what you think about the effectiveness of Nattokianse in preventing a first or recurrent DVT or PE.

  • Nattokinase

    Nattokinase is a soybean food content, produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis (natto) during fermentation of soybeans. It is a 275 amino acid peptide. It is also called “Subtilisin NAT” [ref 1]. It is claimed to have clot-dissolving abilities, similar to plasmin.

  • 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:

  • Pulmonary Hypertension after PE – CTEPH

    Pulmonary hypertension affects up to 4 % of PE patient and typically occurs within the first 2 years after a PE.  It is defined as a mean pulmonary artery pressure of ≥ 25 mm Hg by right heart catheterization, with normal pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance.  Pulmonary hypertension occurring after an…

  • Chronic Lung Damage after PE – Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH)

    Blood clots in the lung (pulmonary embolism, PE) often completely dissolve within a few weeks or months and a patient’s symptoms of shortness and breath and chest pain disappear.  Many people return to their normal self and have no physical limitations thereafter. Other people have some residual symptoms of shortness of breath or chest discomfort,…