American Society of Hematology 2018 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism

Wendy Lim, Grégoire Le Gal, Shannon M. Bates, Marc Righini, Linda B. Haramati, Eddy Lang, Jeffrey A. Kline, Sonja Chasteen, Marcia Snyder, Payal Patel, Meha Bhatt, Parth Patel, Cody Braun, Housne Begum, Wojtek Wiercioch, Holger J. Schünemann, Reem A. Mustafa

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

239 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Modern diagnostic strategies for venous thromboembolism (VTE) incorporate pretest probability (PTP; prevalence) assessment. The ability of diagnostic tests to correctly identify or exclude VTE is influenced by VTE prevalence and test accuracy characteristics. Objective: These evidence-based guidelines are intended to support patients, clinicians, and health care professionals in VTE diagnosis. Diagnostic strategies were evaluated for pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the lower and upper extremity, and recurrent VTE. Methods: The American Society of Hematology (ASH) formed a multidisciplinary panel including patient representatives. The McMaster University GRADE Centre completed systematic reviews up to 1 October 2017. The panel prioritized questions and outcomes and used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach to assess evidence and make recommendations. Test accuracy estimates and VTE population prevalence were used to model expected outcomes in diagnostic pathways. Where modeling was not feasible, management and accuracy studies were used to formulate recommendations. Results: Ten recommendations are presented, by PTP for patients with suspected PE and lower extremity DVT, and for recurrent VTE and upper extremity DVT. Conclusions: For patients at low (unlikely) VTE risk, using D-dimer as the initial test reduces the need for diagnostic imaging. For patients at high (likely) VTE risk, imaging is warranted. For PE diagnosis, ventilation-perfusion scanning and computed tomography pulmonary angiography are the most validated tests, whereas lower or upper extremity DVT diagnosis uses ultrasonography. Research is needed on new diagnostic modalities and to validate clinical decision rules for patients with suspected recurrent VTE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3226-3256
Number of pages31
JournalBlood Advances
Volume2
Issue number22
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 27 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'American Society of Hematology 2018 guidelines for management of venous thromboembolism: Diagnosis of venous thromboembolism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this