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Query: UMLS:C0034065 (pulmonary embolism)
 14,979 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

There has been uncertainty as to whether a right to left shunt through an isolated pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (P-AVF) without Rendu-Osler-Weber (ROW) disease can cause paradoxical brain embolism. A population of 747 acute ischaemic stroke patients was examined to determine the frequency and clinical characteristics of those patients who had an isolated P-AVF. The presence of a P-AVF was determined as follows. On patients with a stroke of undetermined cause, both transoesophageal echocardiography and transcranial Doppler with saline contrast medium was performed to detect a right to left shunt. If a P-AVF was then suspected, selective pulmonary angiography and enhanced chest CT was performed to confirm the presence of the P-AVF. Four patients (0.5%) were diagnosed as having a stroke associated with an isolated P-AVF. All the patients were middle-aged women (mean age 61 years). In all these patients, the P-AVF could not have been suspected on physical findings or chest x ray. The P-AVF was always single and located in the lower lobe. All the patients had asymptomatic deep venous thrombosis, and three patients developed pulmonary embolism. As D-dimer and thrombin-antithrombin complex were elevated in all patients, this indicated an activation of both fibrinolytic and thrombin activity. Our results show that an isolated P-AVF without ROW disease can cause paradoxical brain embolism. Thus, the existence of an isolated P-AVF as a right to left shunt in patients with a stroke of unknown origin should not be overlooked, even if a P-AVF is not suggested by the initial physical findings or chest x ray.
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PMID:Isolated pulmonary arteriovenous fistula without Rendu-Osler-Weber disease as a cause of cryptogenic stroke. 1474 15

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a relatively common inherited vascular disorder that was first described in 1864, and is notable for epistaxis, telangiectasia, and arterial venous malformations. While genetic tests are available, the diagnosis remains clinical, and is based on the Curacao criteria. Patients with HHT are at increased risk for both bleeding and clotting events. Because of these competing complications, hematologists are often faced with difficult clinical decisions. While the majority of management decisions revolve around bleeding complications, it is not infrequent for these patients to require anticoagulation for thrombosis. Any anticoagulation recommendations must take into account the bleeding risks associated with HHT. Recent reviews have found that HHT patients can be safely anticoagulated, with the most frequent complication being worsened epistaxis. Large clinical trials have shown that factor IIa and Xa inhibitors have less intracranial bleeding than warfarin, and basic coagulation research has provided a possible mechanism. This article describes the anticoagulation dilemma posed when a 62-year-old female patient with a history of bleeding events associated with HHT was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism. The subsequent discussion focuses on the approach to anticoagulation in the HHT patient, and addresses the role of the new oral anticoagulants.
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PMID:Bleeding and clotting in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. 2587 4

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) usually presents in association with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). In addition, the incidence of venous thromboembolism tends to be increased in these patients. A 74-year-old female with HHT presented with cyanosis and hypoxemia. Contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) revealed two left PAVMs and one in the right upper lobe. Both left PAVMs were treated with embolotherapy. Follow-up MSCT revealed an incidental pulmonary embolism in the right pulmonary branches. Deep venous thrombosis was confirmed and anticoagulation was initiated. Follow-up MSCT revealed the resolution of thromboembolism. Finally, embolotherapy was performed. This case illustrates the chronic adaptation to hypoxemia and adds further evidence to the relative safety of anticoagulation treatment in these patients.
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PMID:Huge Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation, Venous Thromboembolism and Anticoagulation Treatment in a Patient with Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. 2652 4

Although Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) is characterized by an overwhelming bleeding propensity, patients with this disease may also present medical conditions that require antithrombotic therapy (AT). However, precise information on indications, dosage, duration, effectiveness, and safety of AT in HHT patients is lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of the HHT Registry of our University Hospital and found 26 patients who received AT for a total of 30 courses (19 courses of anticoagulant therapy and 11 courses of antiplatelet therapy). Indications to treatments included: atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, heart valve replacement, retinal artery occlusion, secondary prevention after either stroke or myocardial infarction, and thromboprophylaxis for surgery. The total time of exposure to antiplatelet therapy was 385 months and to anticoagulant therapy 169 months. AT was generally well tolerated, with no fatal bleedings and no significant changes in hemoglobin levels. However, we found three major bleedings, with an incidence rate of 6.5 per 100 patients per year. When only patients treated with anticoagulants were considered, the incidence rate of major bleedings increased to 21.6 per 100 patients per year. Our study indicates that major bleeding may occur in HHT patients receiving AT, with a substantially increased rate in those treated with anticoagulants. Further studies are needed to fully estimate the tolerability of antithrombotic drugs in HHT.
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PMID:Antithrombotic Therapy in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: Real-World Data from the Gemelli Hospital HHT Registry. 3249 18