RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy in contact sports: is it career limiting?
JF Journal of Investigative Medicine
JO J Investig Med
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 781
OP 784
DO 10.1136/jim-2020-001658
VO 69
IS 3
A1 Asim Kichloo
A1 Rawan Amir
A1 Farah Wani
A1 Sukhbir Randhawa
A1 Benjamin Rudd
A1 David Rechlin
YR 2021
UL http://hw-f5-jim.highwire.org/content/69/3/781.abstract
AB Medical conditions requiring treatment with anticoagulation (AC) or antiplatelet therapy have a huge burden on the average patient, but such conditions can have catastrophic effects on the careers of young, rising athletes, in particular those involved in contact sports at a professional level. Contact sports are defined as sports in which body-to-body contact is expected as part of the game such as football, basketball, soccer and hockey. The rates of injuries in these sports are high increasing the likelihood of bleeding event on AC. The main etiologies requiring AC and antiplatelets in athletes are venous thromboembolism and coronary artery disease, respectively. To date, there are no clear medical guidelines on the management of such conditions in athletes. Herein we review the traditional approach to treating such conditions afflicting athletes as well as more recently modified approaches to answer the ultimate question: should anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy in contact sports be career limiting?