A recent “Grand Rounds” review of venous thrombosis (VT) in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (E Mitchel, T Diamond, L Albenberg. J Pediatr 2020; 216: 213-7) provides some practical advice in an area in need of more clarity.
Risk factors for VT:
- inflammation
- malnutrition
- dehydration
- malabsorption
- need for surgery
- medications (eg. steroids)
- immobilization
- infection
- placement of central line
- hormonal contraceptive use
- cigarette use
- hereditary thrombophilia/first-degree relative with VT
Key points:
- Pediatric patients with IBD are at increased risk for VT with an estimated incidence between 0.09% and 1.9%. Patients hospitalized with an IBD flare have a “6-fold increased risk for pulmonary embolism and deep-vein thrombosis as compared” to hospitalized patients without IBD. In another study, the risk was lower with a relative risk for VT of 2.37 for Crohn’s and 1.99 for ulcerative colitis (UC).
- ESPGHAN guidelines recommend prophylactic anticoagulation in patients with acute severe colitis and at least 1 risk factor (in prepubertal children — at least 2 risk factors). Mobilization and hydration are also recommended.
- At the authors’ institution, “patients <12 years do not meet routine criteria” for thromboprophylaxis unless at high risk.
- Patients >12 years who are at medium or high risk are given mechanical prophylaxis with a pneumatic compression device (if no contraindications).
- In those at high risk and >12 years, pharmacologic prophylaxis is considered in concert with hematology service. “High risk is considered altered mobility and at least 1 risk factor.”
My take: In adolescents hospitalized with IBD, this article suggests that almost all should receive mechanical prophylaxis for VT and a subset at increased risk may benefit from pharmaccologic prophylaxis.
Related blog posts:
- Catheter-Related Venous Thromboembolism
- Venous Thromboembolism: A Good Question for Pediatric Collaboration
- VTE with IBD
- Neurological Complications Associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
From a visit to Montreal
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