Anti Xa is a measure for the activity of anticoagulation. The name of the assay is confusing. It is a measure for the activity of heparin or or low molecular weight heparin. Chromogenic Xa is a measure of the activity of coumadin. It is used when starting warfarin during treatment with argatroban. What is Anti…
Inferior vena cava thrombosis is usually the result of an IVC filter. However, native IVC thrombosis is also encountered. While it is a form of deep vein thrombosis, the natural history of IVC thrombosis is variable. It ranges from remaining asymptomatic for the long-term to debilitating bilateral leg swelling. Diagnosis The diagnosis of IVC thrombosis…
This is an Angiologist.com patient handout about foot care. Angiologist.com patient handouts are not medical advice. They are intended as a general guide. For specific instructions please contact your doctor. Why is foot care important? The simplest of foot injuries can be terrible for people who have vascular problems. Even a small ulcer, cut or…
Many patients who need surgery are on blood thinners. (Are you a medical professional? Click here). This creates a problem. If the blood thinners are not stopped long enough before the surgery, bleeding can occur. But if the blood thinners are stopped too soon, clots can occur. The same challenges exist when blood thinners are…
Dabigatran (marketed as Pradaxa in the United States) is an oral direct thrombin inhibitor. It is FDA approved for use for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation at a dose of 150 mg BID. This approval is based mainly on the RE-LY trial. Dabigatran will also be approved…
How to eat right is one of the elusive keys to staying healthy. Eating right is not complicated, but many people just don’t know enough about it. This is why I wrote these easy ‘eat right tips’. Following these tips is easy and not expensive. 10 tips on how to eat right – the DO’s…
The web is filled with advice about how to stay healthy, but most of it is either inaccurate or plain wrong or just meant to sell you something. Staying healthy is smarter, cheaper and, well… just healthier than dealing with disease. This list of 10 simple things YOU should do to stay healthy will guard…
How long should a clot be treated for? This question is central to the care of patients with venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism). The way to decide, is to balance potential benefits and risks of shorter and longer treatment durations. Put simply, VTE treatment duration balances risk of recurrence, risk of bleeding…
A blue finger can be a sign of finger ischemia. Examples include an ischemic finger as a result of atheroembolism or a cardio-embolic phenomenon. But spontaneous benign blue finger (or spontaneous benign blue toe) is a benign process . This condition has actually been known for decades. Vascular medicine physicians used to call it ‘spontaneous…
Managing anticoagulation and thrombocytopenia is challenging. The obvious risk is bleeding. Anticoagulation and thrombocytopenia are therefore a combination that mandates particular attention. Specifically two questions need to be asked: What is the risk for thrombosis in patients with thrombocytopenia? What is the lowest platelet count in which anticoagulation may still be given in the setting…
