Matteo Nicola Dario Di Minno1, Pasquale Ambrosino2, Walter Ageno3, Frits Rosendaal4, Giovanni Di Minno2, Francesco Dentali3. 1. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Reference Centre for Coagulation Disorders, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; Unit of cell and molecular biology in cardiovascular diseases, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: dario.diminno@hotmail.it. 2. Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Reference Centre for Coagulation Disorders, Federico II University, Naples, Italy. 3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. 4. Department of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Natural anticoagulants deficiency (antithrombin [AT], protein C [PC], protein S [PS]) is a rare, but potent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies evaluating the impact of inherited natural anticoagulants deficiency on VTE risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case-control and cohort studies evaluating the association of these abnormalities with VTE were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE databases. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in the analysis. Thirteen studies (3,452 cases and 11,562 controls) showed an increased risk of first VTE in AT deficient subjects compared to controls (OR: 16.26, 95%CI:9.90-26.70; P<0.00001). An increased risk of first VTE was also found in PC (11 studies, 2,554 cases and 9,355 controls; OR: 7.51, 95%CI:3.21-17.52; P<0.00001) and PS deficient patients (14 studies, 4,955 cases and 9,267 controls; OR: 5.37; 95%CI:2.70-10.67; P<0.00001) compared to controls. Evaluating the risk of VTE recurrence, we found a significant association with AT (4 studies, 142 cases and 1,927 controls; OR: 3.61; 95%CI:1.46-8.95; P=0.006) and with PC (2 studies, 80 cases and 546 controls; OR: 2.94; 95%CI:1.43-6.04; P=0.03), but not with PS deficiency (2 studies, 57 cases and 589 controls; OR: 2.52; 95%CI:0.89-7.16; P=0.08). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses confirmed these results. The association among natural anticoagulants deficiency and VTE was maximal for patients with unprovoked events. CONCLUSION: The VTE risk is increased in patients with natural anticoagulants deficiency, but additional studies are warranted to better assess the risk of VTE recurrence.
INTRODUCTION: Natural anticoagulants deficiency (antithrombin [AT], protein C [PC], protein S [PS]) is a rare, but potent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We performed a meta-analysis of observational studies evaluating the impact of inherited natural anticoagulants deficiency on VTE risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Case-control and cohort studies evaluating the association of these abnormalities with VTE were systematically searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and EMBASE databases. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in the analysis. Thirteen studies (3,452 cases and 11,562 controls) showed an increased risk of first VTE in AT deficient subjects compared to controls (OR: 16.26, 95%CI:9.90-26.70; P<0.00001). An increased risk of first VTE was also found in PC (11 studies, 2,554 cases and 9,355 controls; OR: 7.51, 95%CI:3.21-17.52; P<0.00001) and PS deficientpatients (14 studies, 4,955 cases and 9,267 controls; OR: 5.37; 95%CI:2.70-10.67; P<0.00001) compared to controls. Evaluating the risk of VTE recurrence, we found a significant association with AT (4 studies, 142 cases and 1,927 controls; OR: 3.61; 95%CI:1.46-8.95; P=0.006) and with PC (2 studies, 80 cases and 546 controls; OR: 2.94; 95%CI:1.43-6.04; P=0.03), but not with PS deficiency (2 studies, 57 cases and 589 controls; OR: 2.52; 95%CI:0.89-7.16; P=0.08). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses confirmed these results. The association among natural anticoagulants deficiency and VTE was maximal for patients with unprovoked events. CONCLUSION: The VTE risk is increased in patients with natural anticoagulants deficiency, but additional studies are warranted to better assess the risk of VTE recurrence.