RIETE Score for Risk of Hemorrhage in Pulmonary Embolism Treatment
Consider using the RIETE score to stratify patients’ risk for bleeding after anti-coagulation for DVT/PE in conjunction with situation specific risks/benefits.
The RIETE registry developed a clinical score to stratify a patient’s risk of major bleeding with anticoagulation for DVT or PE.
- Included all patients with symptomatic acute DVT or PE diagnosed by CTV or US for DVT and pulmonary angiography, lung scintigraphy or helical CT for PE
- Scoring system consisted of 6 criteria, 1 of which was worth 2 points, 2 worth 1.5 points each, and 3 worth 1 point each
- The study used 0 points to define low risk for major bleeding events (0.1% risk of bleeding), 1-4 points for intermediate risk (2.8% risk), and >4 points for high risk (6.2% risk)
- Major bleeding was defined as overt bleeding plus one of the following:
- Required transfusion of 2+ units of blood,
- Retroperitoneal, spinal or intracranial, OR
- Fatal
Points to keep in mind:
- Study used same population for derivation and validation cohorts
- Did not distinguish between different types of anticoagulation
- Anemia was never defined
- Score has not been externally validated. The only validation study to date utilized the same RIETE database and used a different endpoint.
A subsequent risk score has been developed by the ATRIA group which also used similar criteria in their score to determine risk of bleeding after anti-coagulation with warfarin for atrial fibrillation. They also had a similar overall bleeding rate as the RIETE group.
The RIETE score is based on a very large cohort of patients and, if validated, has a significant difference in outcomes between the low and high risk groups, making it a potentially powerful tool to guide the decision to anticoagulate.
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About the Creator
Nuria Ruíz-Giménez Arrieta, MD, practices internal medicine at Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain. She is also an associate professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Dr. Arrieta’s research interests include venous thromboembolism and geriatrics.
To view Dr. Nuria Ruíz-Giménez Arrieta's publications, visit PubMed