Fibrinogen contribution to clot strength in patients with sepsis and hematologic malignancies and thrombocytopenia-a prospective, single-center, analytical, cross-sectional study.

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies (HM) frequently present thrombocytopenia and higher risk of bleeding. Although transfusion is associated with higher risk of adverse events and poor outcomes, prophylactic transfusion of platelets is a common practice to prevent hemorrhagic complications. Thromboelastometry has been considered a better predictor for bleeding than isolated platelet counts in different settings. In early stages of sepsis, hypercoagulability may occur due to higher fibrinogen levels. Objectives: To evaluate the behavior of coagulation in patients with HM who develop sepsis and to verify whether a higher concentration of fibrinogen is associated with a proportional increase in maximum clot firmness (MCF) even in the presence of severe thrombocytopenia. Methods: We performed a unicentric analytical cross-sectional study with 60 adult patients with HM and severe thrombocytopenia, of whom 30 had sepsis (sepsis group) and 30 had no infections (control group). Coagulation conventional tests and specific coagulation tests, including thromboelastometry, were performed. The main outcome evaluated was MCF. Results: Higher levels of fibrinogen and MCF were found in sepsis group. Both fibrinogen and platelets contributed to MCF. The relative contribution of fibrin was significantly higher (60.5 ± 12.8% vs 43.6 ± 9.7%; P < .001) and that of platelets was significantly lower (39.5 ± 12.8% vs 56.4 ± 9.7%; P < .001) in the sepsis group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Patients with sepsis and HM presented higher concentrations of fibrinogen than uninfected patients, resulting in greater MCF amplitudes even in the presence of thrombocytopenia.

Epidemiology of the use of inferior vena cava filters in Brazil between 2008 and 2019.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to study the totality of inferior vena cava filter placements and their temporal and geographic distribution in the Brazilian Public Health System, which insures more than 160 million Brazilians. The secondary objective was to analyze in-hospital mortality after filter placement and deaths due to pulmonary embolism. METHODS: Public and open data on in-hospital mortality due to pulmonary embolism and on rates of inferior vena cava filters placement, its associated diagnosis, and in-hospital mortality in Brazilian public hospitals between January 2008 and December 2019 were extracted from Ministry of Health databases. RESULTS: A total of 9108 inferior vena cava filters were placed, 98.18% of which was therapeutic. We observed a significant increase in the use of these devices over the years, from 508 inferior vena cava filters placed in 2008 to 965 in 2019. In-hospital mortality rate in patients who received inferior vena cava filters was 6.21%, stable over time, and 96.64% of causes of these causes were attributed to venous thromboembolism. The in-hospital mortality rate due to pulmonary embolism, regardless of the placement of vena cava filters, has increased significantly. CONCLUSION: We observed a low but increasing rate of inferior vena cava filter placements in Brazil between 2008 and 2019, most indications were therapeutic. Our findings were heterogeneous across Brazilian regions and contrasted to those observed in the USA, which is likely due to cultural and socioeconomic factors.