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

  • 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.

  • HIT = Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia

    What Is HIT? Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious side effect that may occur when you are being treated with heparin. It may lead to low blood platelet counts and to life-threatening blood clots.

  • Symptoms of DVT and PE

    DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) A DVT is a blood clot that most commonly occurs in the leg, typically only one leg (image 1). However, occasionally it occurs in both legs at the same time (=bilateral DVT). Sometimes, a DVT is in the pelvic veins or the big abdominal vein (=inferior vena cava). And some DVTs…

  • Progestin-only Contraceptives and Blood Clots

    Background It is well known that combination contraceptives (containing estrogens AND progestins) increase the risk for blood clots (venous thromboembolism = VTE). Relatively few data, however, have been published on progestin-only contraceptives, so that until recently it has not been clear whether they increase the risk for VTE or not.

  • Progestin-only Contraceptives and Thrombosis

    Background It is well known that combination contraceptives (containing estrogens AND progestins) increase the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Relatively few data, however, have been published on progestin-only contraceptives, so that until recently it was not clear whether they increase the risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) or not.

  • Xarelto® – Good News

    Summary Good news. A major study published in December 2010 in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) shows that the new oral “blood thinner” Xarelto® (=Rivaroxaban) is (a) as safe and effective as warfarin in patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and (b) is quite effective in preventing recurrent blood clots (DVT…

  • Pradaxa Approval – Great News!

    The new oral anticoagulant Pradaxa® (Dabigatran) was approved by the FDA on October 20th, 2010 [ref 1,2]. As of Feb 3rd, 2012, Pradaxa® is only FDA approved for use in patients with atrial fibrillation. It is not approved yet for patients with DVT and PE.