Clinical outcome of patients with a vitamin K antagonist-associated bleeding treated with prothrombin complex concentrate

Background: Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are used for the treatment of thromboembolism. Patients with severe VKA-associated bleeding require immediate restoration of haemostasis. Clinical studies on the effect of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) are heterogeneous with respect to outcome of bleeding. Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of patients treated with PCC for VKA-associated bleeding. Methods: We performed a cohort study of consecutive patients who received PCC for VKA-related bleeding in five Dutch hospitals. Data were collected by chart review on the bleeding event, international normalized ratio (INR), haemostatic efficacy, thromboembolic (TE) complications, and mortality. The primary outcome was effective haemostasis, assessed by an adaptation of the Sarode criteria with a surrogate outcome for patients with ICH without repeat CT. Results: One hundred patients were included. Mean age was 74 years, 54% were male and 79% received VKA for atrial fibrillation. Most patients presented with ICH (41%) or GI bleeding (36%). Effective haemostasis was achieved in 67/98 (68%) patients using the adapted classification. Surrogate outcomes were applied for 32 patients and data for two patients was missing. Median pre-treatment INR was 3.9 (IQR 2.9-5.8). One hour after PCC infusion, the INR was available for 50 patients and of these, 35 (70%) had an INR s1.4. TE complications occurred in five patients and 22 died (60% bleeding-related) within 30 days. Conclusion: PCC achieved effective haemostasis in 68% of evaluable patients with VKA-associated bleeding. TE complication rates were low, but mortality rates were high, due to the large number of patients with ICH

Benefits and harms of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of vitamin K antagonist associated bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is used for reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with bleeding complications. This study aims to assess benefits and harms of 4-factor PCC compared to fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or no treatment in VKA associated bleeding. PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched from 1945 to August 2015. Studies reporting 4-factor PCC use for VKA associated bleeding and providing data on INR normalization, mortality or thromboembolic (TE) complications were eligible. Two authors screened titles and full articles for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Mortality data were pooled using Mantel-Haenszel random effects meta-analysis. Nineteen studies were included (N = 2878); 18 cohort studies and one RCT. Six studies had good methodological quality, 9 moderate and 4 poor. Baseline INR values ranged from 2.2 to > 20. The INR within 1 h after PCC administration ranged from 1.4 to 1.9, and after FFP administration from 2.2 to 12. PCC reduced the time to reach INR correction in comparison with FFP or no treatment. The observed mortality rate ranged from 0 to 43% (mean 17%) in the PCC, 4.8-54% (mean 16%) in the FFP and 23-69% (mean 51%) in the no treatment group. Meta-analysis of mortality data resulted in an OR of 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27-1.5) for PCC versus FFP and an OR 0.41 (95% CI 0.13-1.3) for PCC versus no treatment. TE complications were observed in 0-18% (mean 2.5%) of PCC and in 6.4% of FFP recipients. Four-factor PCC is an effective and safe option in reversal of VKA bleeding event

Benefits and harms of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for reversal of vitamin K antagonist associated bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) is used for reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with bleeding complications. This study aims to assess benefits and harms of 4-factor PCC compared to fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or no treatment in VKA associated bleeding. PubMed, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched from 1945 to August 2015. Studies reporting 4-factor PCC use for VKA associated bleeding and providing data on INR normalization, mortality or thromboembolic (TE) complications were eligible. Two authors screened titles and full articles for inclusion, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Mortality data were pooled using Mantel-Haenszel random effects meta-analysis. Nineteen studies were included (N = 2878); 18 cohort studies and one RCT. Six studies had good methodological quality, 9 moderate and 4 poor. Baseline INR values ranged from 2.2 to > 20. The INR within 1 h after PCC administration ranged from 1.4 to 1.9, and after FFP administration from 2.2 to 12. PCC reduced the time to reach INR correction in comparison with FFP or no treatment. The observed mortality rate ranged from 0 to 43% (mean 17%) in the PCC, 4.8-54% (mean 16%) in the FFP and 23-69% (mean 51%) in the no treatment group. Meta-analysis of mortality data resulted in an OR of 0.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27-1.5) for PCC versus FFP and an OR 0.41 (95% CI 0.13-1.3) for PCC versus no treatment. TE complications were observed in 0-18% (mean 2.5%) of PCC and in 6.4% of FFP recipients. Four-factor PCC is an effective and safe option in reversal of VKA bleeding event

Clinical impact of major bleeding in patients with venous thrombo-embolism treated with factor Xa inhibitors or vitamin K antagonists

Factor Xa (fXa)-inhibitors are as effective and safer than vitaminK antagonists (VKA) in the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We previously classified the severity of clinical presentation and course of all major bleeding events from the EINSTEIN, AMPLIFY and HOKUSAI-VTE trials separately. The current aim was to combine these findings in order to increase precision, assess a class effect and analyse presentation and course for different types of bleeding, i.e. intracranial, gastro-intestinal, and other. We classified the clinical presentation and course of all major bleeding events using pre-defined criteria. Both classifications comprised four categories; one being the mildest, and four the most severe. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for all events classified as category three or four between fXa-inhibitors and VKA recipients. Also, ORs were computed for different types of bleeding. Major bleeding occurred in 111 fXa-inhibitor recipients and in 187 LMWHNKA recipients. The clinical presentation was classified as category three or four in 35% and 48% of the major bleeds in fXa inhibitor and VKA recipients, respectively (OR 0.59, 95 % CI 0.36-0.97). For intracranial, gastro-intestinal and other bleeding a trend towards a less severe presentation was observed for patients treated with fXa inhibitors. Clinical course was classified as severe in 22 % of the fXa inhibitor and 25% of the VKA associated bleeds (OR 0.83, 95 % CI 0.47-1.46). In conclusion, FXa inhibitor associated major bleeding events had a significantly less severe presentation and a similar course compared to VKA. This finding was consistent for different types of bleedin

Clinical Impact and Course of Anticoagulant-Related Major Bleeding in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) have a two- to six-fold increased risk of anticoagulant-related major bleeding events compared with VTE patients without cancer. It is unknown whether major bleeding events are more severe in cancer patients than in those without cancer. Individual patient data from four randomized phase III trials that compared factor Xa inhibitors and vitamin K antagonists for the treatment of VTE were used to compare the severity of major bleeding events in patients with and without cancer. Using predefined criteria, the severity of the clinical presentation and course of major bleeding events were classified into four categories of increasing severity. A one-stage meta-analysis was used to evaluate the effect of cancer on the severity of the clinical presentation and course by estimating crude odds ratios (ORs) and ORs adjusted for age, sex and anticoagulant type with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The study group comprised 290 patients with major bleeding, of whom 50 (17%) had cancer. The clinical presentation was judged to be severe (category 3 or 4) in 38% of patients with cancer and 44% of patients without cancer (adjusted OR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.47-1.72). The clinical course was found to be severe in 20 and 25% of patients with and without cancer, respectively (adjusted OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.35-1.61). The present study suggests that the clinical presentation and course of anticoagulant-related major bleeding events are not more severe in cancer patients than in patients without cancer. This may be reassuring for physicians who treat cancer patients with anticoagulant-related bleedin

Dose reduction of edoxaban preserves efficacy and safety for the treatment of venous thromboembolism: An analysis of the randomised, double-blind HOKUSAI VTE trial

Direct oral anticoagulants simplify venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment by obviating the need for coagulation monitoring. Nonetheless, renal function, body weight and P-glycoprotein inhibitors influence drug levels. The objective of this analysis was to determine whether reduction in edoxaban dose based on clinical criteria avoids excess drug exposure and preserves efficacy and safety in the Hokusai-VTE study. After initial heparin, patients received edoxaban or warfarin for 3-12 months. Edoxaban was given once daily at a dose of 60 mg, which was reduced to 30 mg in patients with a creatinine clearance of 30–50 ml/minute, body weight ≤60 kg or receiving certain P-glycoprotein inhibitors. The primary efficacy outcome was recurrent VTE and the principal safety outcome was major or clinically relevant non-major bleeding. A total of 8292 patients with acute VTE were randomised, 733 and 719 patients in the edoxaban and warfarin groups met the criteria for dose reduction. These patients were older, more often female or Asian and had more extensive VTE. Edoxaban levels were lower in the 30 mg edoxaban group. Rates of recurrent VTE and bleeding with the 30 mg and 60 mg edoxaban dose were comparable: VTE rates were 3.0 % and 3.2 % and clinically relevant bleeding rates were 7.9 % and 8.6 %, respectively. Rates of recurrent VTE and bleeding in the warfarin-treated patients meeting the criteria for dose reduction were 4.2 % and 12.8 %, respectively. The reduced dose edoxaban regimen maintained efficacy and safety compared with the 60 mg dose but was safer than warfarin in patients meeting the criteria for dose reduction

Clinical impact and course of major bleeding with edoxaban versus vitamin K antagonists

Edoxaban is a once-daily direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC). The Hokusai-VTE study revealed that, after initial treatment with heparin, edoxaban was non-inferior to and safer than vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in the prevention of recurrent deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. This is the first report on the clinical relevance and management of bleeding events with edoxaban. All major bleeding events were classified blindly by three study-independent adjudicators. Pre-defined criteria were used to classify severity of clinical presentation and, separately, the clinical course and outcome into four categories. Major bleeding occurred in 56 patients treated with edoxaban and 65 patients treated with VKA. The severest categories (3 or 4) of the clinical presentation were assigned to 46 % of the major bleeding episodes in edoxaban recipients versus 58 % of the major bleeds in VKA recipients (odds ratio [OR] 0.62, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.30-1.27, p = 0.19). Clinical course was classified as severe (category 3 or 4) in 23 % of the edoxaban and 29 % of the VKA associated bleeds (OR 0.73, 95 % CI 0.32-1.66, p = 0.46). In conclusion, edoxaban associated major bleeding events have a comparable clinical presentation and course to major bleeds with VKA in patients treated for venous thromboembolism in the Hokusai-VTE study. These results may assure physicians that it is safe to prescribe this medication. If a major bleeding during edoxaban treatment occurs, its clinical presentation and clinical course are not worse than in VKA-treated patient

Emergencies on direct oral anticoagulants: Management, outcomes, and laboratory effects of prothrombin complex concentrate

Background In the initial absence of specific reversal agents for factor Xa inhibitors (FXa-Is), prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) as a hemostatic agent has been recommended by guidelines. Since 2017, idarucizumab has been registered for dabigatran reversal. Still, data on the clinical outcome of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)-related emergencies (major bleeding or urgent interventions) is scarce. In addition, it is unknown to what extent PCC restores thrombin generation in FXa-I-related emergencies. Our aim was to describe management and clinical outcomes of DOAC-related emergencies and to assess the laboratory effect of PCC in patients with FXa-I emergencies. Methods In this prospective cohort study in 5 Dutch hospitals, patients presenting with DOAC-related emergencies were eligible. The primary outcome was effective hemostasis according to the ISTH definition. Safety outcomes were 30-day mortality and thromboembolic rate. In patients treated with PCC, additional blood samples were taken to assess the effect on thrombin generation. Results We included 101 patients with major bleeding (FXa-I, 76; dabigatran, 25) and 21 patients requiring an urgent intervention (FXa-I, 16; dabigatran, 5). Of patients with major bleeding, 67% were treated with PCC or idarucizumab. Effective hemostasis, 30-day mortality, and thromboembolism rate were 67%, 22%, and 1%, respectively. In a subset of bleeding patients on FXa-I managed with PCC, thrombin generation increased, with 96% immediately after PCC administration. In patients requiring an urgent intervention, effective hemostasis, 30-day mortality, and thromboembolic rate were 95%, 14%, and 5%. Conclusions Effective hemostasis was achieved in the majority of patients presenting with DOAC-related emergencies;, thromboembolic complications were rare, and mortality was quite high