Is the network meta-analysis (NETMA) bringing us closer to the truth? Insights from recent antithrombotic drug data

Sam Schulman

doi:10.1160/TH12-10-0730

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2012; 108(05): 872-875
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-10-0730

Invited Editorial Focus

Schattauer GmbH

Is the network meta-analysis (NETMA) bringing us closer to the truth? Insights from recent antithrombotic drug data

Sam Schulman

¹Department of Medicine, McMaster University and Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Full Text

References

References
1 Holmes M, Carroll C, Papaioannou D. Dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing elective hip and knee surgery: a single technology appraisal. Health Technol Assess 2009; 13 (Suppl. 02) 55-62.
2 McCullagh L, Tilson L, Walsh C. et al. A cost-effectiveness model comparing rivaroxaban and dabigatran etexilate with enoxaparin sodium as thromboprophylaxis after total hip and total knee replacement in the irish healthcare setting. Pharmacoeconomics 2009; 27: 829-846.
3 Wolowacz SE, Roskell NS, Maciver F. et al. Economic evaluation of dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total knee and hip replacement surgery. Clin Ther 2009; 31: 194-212.
4 Wolowacz SE, Roskell NS, Plumb JM. et al. Economic evaluation of dabigatran etexilate for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients aged over 75 years or with moderate renal impairment undergoing total knee or hip replacement. Thromb Haemost 2010; 103: 360-371.
5 Matchar DB, Jacobson A, Dolor R. et al. Effect of home testing of international normalized ratio on clinical events. N Engl J Med 2010; 363: 1608-1620.
6 Harenberg J, Marx S, Dahl OE. et al. Interpretation of endpoints in a network meta-analysis of new oral anticoagulants following total hip or total knee replacement surgery. Thromb Haemost 2012; 108: 903-912.
7 Cohen A, Drost P, Marchant N. et al. The efficacy and safety of pharmacological prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism following elective nnee or hip replacement: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2012 Epub ahead of print.
8 Kakkar AK, Brenner B, Dahl OE. et al. Extended duration rivaroxaban versus short-term enoxaparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip arthroplasty: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2008; 372: 31-39.
9 Eriksson BI, Borris LC, Dahl OE. et al. Dose-escalation study of rivaroxaban (BAY 59–7939)--an oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor--for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total hip replacement. Thromb Res 2007; 120: 685-693.
10 Maratea D, Fadda V, Trippoli S. et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism after major orthopedic surgery: indirect comparison of three new oral anticoagulants. J Thromb Haemost 2011; 9: 1868-1870.
11 Gomez-Outes A, Terleira-Fernandez AI, Suarez-Gea ML. et al. Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban versus enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis after total hip or knee replacement: systematic review, meta-analysis, and indirect treatment comparisons. Br Med J 2012; 344: e3675.
12 Guyatt GH, Norris SL, Schulman S. et al. Methodology for the development of antithrombotic therapy and prevention of thrombosis guidelines: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest 2012; 141 (Suppl. 02) 53S-70S.
13 Falck-Ytter Y, Francis CW, Johanson NA. et al. Prevention of VTE in orthopedic surgery patients: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines. Chest 2012; 141 (Suppl. 02) e278S-e325S.
14 Eriksson BI, Dahl OE, Rosencher N. et al. Dabigatran etexilate versus enoxaparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip replacement: a randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial. Lancet 2007; 370: 949-956.
15 Eriksson BI, Borris LC, Friedman RJ. et al. Rivaroxaban versus enoxaparin for thromboprophylaxis after hip arthroplasty. N Engl J Med 2008; 358: 2765-2775.
16 Roskell NS, Lip GY, Noack H. et al. Treatments for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: a network meta-analysis and indirect comparisons versus dabigatran etexilate. Thromb Haemost 2010; 104: 1106-1115.
17 Lip GY, Larsen TB, Skjøth F. et al. Indirect comparisons of new oral anticoagulant drugs for efficacy and safety when used for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. J Am Coll Cardiol 2012; 60: 738-746.
18 Mantha S, Ansell J. An indirect comparison of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban for atrial fibrillation. Thromb Haemost 2012; 108: 476-484.
19 Harenberg J, Marx S, Diener HC. et al. Comparison of efficacy and safety of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation using network meta-analysis. Int Angiol 2012; 31: 330-339.
20 Skjøth F, Larsen TB, Rasmussen LH. Indirect comparison studies - are they useful? Insights from the novel oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. Thromb Haemost 2012; 108: 405-406.