title: Thromboembolic events in patients with severe pandemic influenza A/H1N1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 developed as a novel swine influenza which caused more diseases among younger age groups than in the elderly. Severe hypoxemic respiratory failure from A/H1N1 pneumonia resulted in an increased need for ICU beds. Several risk groups were identified that were at a higher risk for adverse outcomes. Pregnant women were a particularly vulnerable group of patients The CDC reported on the first ten patients with severe illness and acute hypoxemic respiratory failure associated with A/H1N1 infection, none of whom were pregnant, but they noticed that half of the patients had a pulmonary embolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a four-month period from September to December 2009, 252 patients were admitted to our hospital with confirmed pandemic influenza H1N1 by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test (rRT-PCR). We cared for twenty patients (7.9%) admitted to MICU with severe A/H1N1. Results on Thrombotic events were identified in five (25%) of our critically ill patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that patients with severe influenza A/H1N1 pneumonitis and respiratory failure be administered DVT prophylaxis in particular if there are additional risk factors for TVE. Further prospective studies on the relationship of influenza A/H1N1 and VTE are needed.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary clinic, Soroka University medical center, Beersheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Lone Sølling
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Avnon
authors.affiliation: MICU, Soroka University medical center, Beersheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.affiliation: Radiology and imaging department, Soroka University medical center, Beersheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smoliakov
authors.affiliation: Internal medicine department, Soroka University medical center, Beersheva, Israel. Electronic address: ajotkowitz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jotkowitz
authors.affiliation: Internal medicine department, Soroka University medical center, Beersheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barski
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D058873:Pandemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Influenza A/H1N1; Mortality; Pregnancy; Thromboembolism