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Deep Vein Thrombosis Overview
Blood clots can lead to a range of dangerous conditions, including strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis. Some drugs have been linked to increasing a patient’s likelihood of developing a blood clot related condition.
One such drug is Xeljanz, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
About Deep Vein Thrombosis
One serious condition related to blood clots is deep vein thrombosis. Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which a blood clot forms in one or more of the large veins of the body.
This condition usually occurs in the legs. It can occur with no symptoms, or can be symptomatic. If not corrected with deep vein thrombosis treatment, DVT can cause a blood clot to travel through the body and into the heart and lungs, causing possibly serious, life-threatening conditions.
Symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Though deep vein thrombosis can be asymptomatic, it can also appear with symptoms, including:
- leg pain or swelling, often starting in the calf and feeling like soreness
- red or discolored skin on the affected leg
- feeling of warmth in the affected leg
Patients who experience these symptoms should seek deep vein thrombosis treatment to prevent the condition from worsening.
Complications of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Patients who develop deep vein thrombosis from drugs like Xeljanz, or DVT complications from IVC filters, may require deep vein thrombosis treatment because the condition is associated with some very serious complications.
One complication that can result from deep vein thrombosis is pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of an artery in the lungs by a blood clot or there substance that has moved from somewhere else in the body to the lungs via the bloodstream.
Pulmonary embolisms after deep vein thrombosis can be life-threatening because it can impede a patient’s ability to breath. However, with preventative care and deep vein thrombosis treatment, a patient’s likelihood of developing pulmonary embolism goes down.
Symptoms of pulmonary embolism that can result after deep vein thrombosis include:
- shortness of breath, that typically worsens with exertion
- chest pain
- cough which may produce bloody or blood-streaked sputum
- leg pain or swelling, usually in the calf
- clammy or discolored skin
- fever
- excessive sweating
- rapid or irregular heartbeat
- lightheadedness or dizziness
Deep Vein Thrombosis Causes
Deep vein thrombosis can be caused by anything that prevents blood from circulating and clotting normally. This can be caused by injury to a vein, a surgery, limited movement, and the effects of some medication.
One such medication that may increase a patient’s risk of developing deep vein thrombosis is Xeljanz.
Xeljanz and Deep Vein Thrombosis
Xeljanz is a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. It is also known by its generic name, tofacitinib. It is taken orally, and according to the drug website, helps reduce joint damage, reduces rheumatoid arthritis pain and swelling, and can be taken on its own.
Unfortunately, the drug has been linked to blood blot-related side effects like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and PE. Patients who experience this side effect may require deep vein thrombosis treatment.
In February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration alerted the public to the results of a clinical trial that indicated that Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR may increase a patient’s risk of developing blood clots in the longs, and may increase their risk of death.
Reportedly, this increased risk was found in painted who took a twice daily dose of Xeljanz and Xeljanz XR to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
According to the FDA Xeljanz blood clot warning, the agency has not approved the 10 mg twice daily dose for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and notes that this high a dose was only approved for patients with ulcerative colitis. So, not all patients may be equally exposed to the blood clot risk associated with Xeljanz.
