Kidney Function Affects Bleeding Risk in Antithrombotic Therapy

Patients with decreased kidney function should have a detailed discussion with their doctor about the possible risks and benefits of proceeding with antithrombotic therapy.

Reduced kidney function caused by antithrombotic medications can significantly influence bleeding events, according to a study published in BMC Medicine.

Patients with heart arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation) have a high risk for thrombotic events in blood vessels that could lead to permanent organ damage such as cerebral infarction and are prescribed antithrombotic therapy to lower their risk of developing blood clots.

Bleeding Diathesis | Hemorrhagic Diathesis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Complications and Treatment
Bleeding diathesis is a severe condition characterized by an increased tendency of the body to bleed.

‘The bleeding risk decreased with time for patients with healthy kidney function but remained high for patients with decreased kidney function.’

However, the risk of bleeding events simultaneously increases due to the nature of these medications. The severity of these bleeding events is highly variable, ranging from epistaxis (nosebleeds) to fatal brain hemorrhage.

Researchers at Kumamoto, Miyazaki, and Tohoku Universities in Japan conducted a study to determine the impact of kidney function on the risk of recurrent bleeding events during antithrombotic therapy.

Their analysis revealed that the effect of kidney function on recurrent bleeding risk events was quite large for patients undergoing this treatment.

Is it Normal to have Blood Clots during Menstruation?
Blood clots during the menstrual cycle is a normal occurrence during heavier menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia). Other medical conditions that are common and treat able can also cause blood clots apart from heavy periods.

The decision to use such a therapy should be balanced between the expected antithrombotic effects and bleeding risks.

In most cases, it is considered better to continue antithrombotic therapies even after bleeding events as long as the event was not severe. However, it is not surprising that both patients and physicians hesitate to continue the therapy after any bleeding event.

Experimental Drug Could Prevent Severe Bleeding With Factor Xa Inhibitors
Andexanet, the experimental drug can be used to reverse severe bleeding in patients with Factor Xa Inhibitor medications.

To assess for drug safety and efficacy, these drugs are usually measured by the numbers of bleeding and thrombotic events. Unfortunately, in the assessment of antithrombotic therapy, most studies only consider the first event in their analyses even though patients could experience multiple events throughout their lifetime.

Furthermore, patients with healthy kidney function appear to have a decreased risk of experiencing a bleeding event over time, but the risk for patients with reduced kidney function remains high as time continues.

Simple, Low-cost Tranexamic Drug Could Save Bleeding Mothers Post Childbirth
Post-partum hemorrhage or severe bleeding in mothers after childbirth could be treated using tranexamic acid as a frontline response, reveals study.

Source-Medindia