Boehringer Ingelheim has successfully advanced into the therapeutic area of treating and preventing thromboembolic diseases.
Thromboembolic disease is a condition in which a blood vessel is obstructed by an embolus carried in the bloodstream from the site of formation. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a part of the umbrella term thromboembolic disease. It refers to two conditions: deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its potentially fatal acute complication, pulmonary embolism (PE).
Information on Thromboembolic Diseases
VTE has been estimated to be the third most common cardiovascular disorder after ischaemic heart disease and stroke. PE accounts for 5-10% of deaths in hospitalised patients, making VTE the most common preventable cause of in-hospital death.
Major orthopaedic surgery without prophylaxis carries a serious risk of VTE. Without preventive treatment, up to 60% of orthopaedic surgery patients could develop DVT, and 0.2%-10% could develop PE.
A DVT results from the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a deep vein which either partially or totally blocks the flow of blood in the vein. Symptoms include chronic pain and swelling in the legs, which in severe cases may cause serious, life-threatening conditions. If a thrombus or a fragment of the thrombus breaks loose, it can travel to the lungs where it may block circulation. It is a serious condition that can cause sudden death and permanent damage to the affected lung(s) and other vital organs in the body.
Blood clotting can also be triggered by atrial fibrillation (AF), which is an abnormal heart rhythm, caused by irregular beating of the atria. The atria are prevented from emptying adequately and the ventricles from normally filling with blood and pumping it out efficiently.
Risk Factors for VTE
Numerous risk factors are associated with VTE, the most important of which are:
- Increasing age
- Immobility
- Orthopaedic surgery
Products
Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate)
Indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolic events in adults who have undergone elective total hip or total knee replacement surgery.
Pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate) is an orally applicable anticoagulant drug which acts through direct thrombin inhibition.
Please note: It received approval by the European Commission for all 27 EU member states in March 2008.
Further indications
Since up to half of patients have either no symptoms or no specific symptoms, VTE is a challenge to diagnose. As a result, the most economical and effective approach for avoiding clots is via preventive measures.
Further indications under investigation:
- Stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation
- Secondary VTE prevention
- Acute VTE treatment
- Secondary prevention of cardiac events in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)
Disclaimer:
We recognise that the Internet serves a global community. The pharmaceutical industry, however, is subject to country specific regulatory considerations, which affect the information we can provide on our products. In addition the registration status of pharmaceutical products may not be the same in different regions of the world and the approved product labels may also differ according to country specific requirements.
Therefore please check the registration details of this/these product(s) locally in order to get up-to-date information.