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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. Pulmonary embolism is a serious medical emergency in
which a blood clot is carried in the circulation to lodge in the pulmonary
artery. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is frequently fatal and often follows surgery.
Researchers at the Harvard Medical School have discovered that 74 per cent of
all cases of non-fatal PE events occur during the autumn and winter months and
that 76 per cent of them occur in the morning hours with a peak at 8 AM. A
similar event distribution has previously been noted for fatal PE and it is also
known that the incidence of heart attack, stroke and sudden death peaks in the
morning.
It is believed that the reason for this pattern relates to increased platelet
aggregability and decreased antithrombin III levels and fibrinolytic activity in
the morning hours. The researchers suggest that their findings can be used to
help prevent PE after surgery. They suggest that subcutaneous heparin
injections should be administered at 6 AM and 10 PM instead of at 9 AM and 6 PM
as is the current practice.
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