Acquired FXIII Deficiency is Associated with High Morbidity

Acquired Factor XIII Deficiency Is Common during ECMO Therapy and Associated with Major Bleeding Events and Transfusion Requirements

BACKGROUND

Bleeding events are frequent complications during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (ECMO).

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate of acquired factor XIII deficiency and its association with major bleeding events and transfusion requirements in adults undergoing ECMO therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective single centre cohort study. Adult patients receiving veno-venous or veno-arterial ECMO therapy during a 2-year period were analysed and screened for factor XIII activity measurements. Factor XIII deficiency was defined based on the lowest factor XIII activity measured during ECMO therapy.

RESULTS

Among 84 subjects included into the analysis, factor XIII deficiency occurred in 69% during ECMO therapy. There were more major bleeding events (OR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.16-10.56; p = 0.02) and higher transfusion requirements (red blood cells, 20 vs. 12, p < 0.001; platelets, 4 vs. 2, p = 0.006) in patients with factor XIII deficiency compared to patients with normal factor XIII activity. In a multivariate regression model, factor XIII deficiency was independently associated with bleeding severity (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective single centre study, acquired factor XIII deficiency was observed in 69% of adult ECMO patients with a high bleeding risk. Factor XIII deficiency was associated with higher rates of major bleeding events and transfusion requirements.

The potential impact of coagulation factor XIII in trauma-induced coagulopathy - a retrospective case series analysis

BACKGROUND

The role of factor XIII (FXIII) in trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is not fully understood.

METHODS

We evaluated FXIII supplementation in severely injured patients with persistent bleeding. This was a retrospective case series analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients received FXIII concentrate within 24 h of admission for bleeding that continued after transfusion of > 6 U red blood cells (RBCs); control patients (n = 27) did not receive FXIII concentrate. Both study groups were similar regarding injury severity score and global coagulation tests, but FXIII activity levels were significantly higher and lactate levels significantly lower in the control group, respectively. The differences in FXIII activity between the groups could be attributed to a more severe trauma-induced coagulopathy in FXIII-deficient patients, as demonstrated by lower fibrinogen and higher lactate levels. The median dose of FXIII concentrate within 24 h of admission was 2500 IU (IQR: 1250-4375). Median 24-h transfusion of RBCs (primary study endpoint) was significantly higher in the FXIII group versus controls (10.0 U, IQR 5-14 U vs. 2, IQR 0-6 U; p < 0.01). Subsequently, while patients were in the intensive care unit, there was no statistically significant difference regarding RBC transfusion anymore and the overall clinical outcomes were similar in both patient groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The substitution of FXIII in patients who were more seriously compromised due to higher lactate levels and who presented with initially more severe bleedings than patients in the control group, resulted in a comparable transfusion necessity after 24 h. Thus, we guess that the substitution of FXIII in severely injured patients with ongoing bleeding might have an impact on their clinical outcome.

Genetic landscape in coagulation factor XIII associated defects – Advances in coagulation and beyond

Coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) acts as a fine fulcrum in blood plasma that maintains the balance between bleeding and thrombosis by covalently crosslinking the pre-formed fibrin clot into an insoluble one that is resistant to premature fibrinolysis. In plasma, FXIII circulates as a pro-transglutaminase complex composed of the dimeric catalytic FXIII-A encoded by the F13A1 gene and dimeric carrier/regulatory FXIII-B subunits encoded by the F13B gene. Growing evidence accumulated over decades of exhaustive research shows that not only does FXIII play major roles in both pathological extremes of hemostasis i.e. bleeding and thrombosis, but that it is, in fact, a pleiotropic protein with physiological roles beyond coagulation. However, the current FXIII genetic-epidemiological literature is overwhelmingly derived from the bleeding pathology associated with its deficiency. In this article we review the current clinical, functional, and molecular understanding of this fascinating multifaceted protein, especially putting into the same perspective its genetic landscape.

Factor XIII Measurement and Substitution in Trauma Patients after Admission to an Intensive Care Unit

Trauma patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) may potentially experience a deficiency of coagulation factor thirteen (FXIII). In this retrospective cohort study conducted at a specialized trauma center, ICU patients were studied to determine the dependency of FXIII activity levels on clinical course and substitution with blood and coagulation products. A total of 189 patients with a median injury severity score (ISS) of 25 (16−36, IQR) were included. Abbreviated injury scores for extremities (r = −0.38, p < 0.0001) but not ISS (r = −0.03, p = 0.45) showed a negative correlation with initial FXIII levels. Patients receiving FXIII concentrate presented with a median initial FXIII level of 54 (48−59)% vs. 88 (74−108)%, p < 0.0001 versus controls; they had fewer ICU-free days: 17 (0−22) vs. 22 (16−24), p = 0.0001; and received higher amounts of red blood cell units: 5 (2−9) vs. 4 (1−7), p < 0.03 before, and 4 (2−7) vs. 1 (0−2), p < 0.0001 after FXIII substitution. Matched-pair analyses based on similar initial FXIII levels did not reveal better outcome endpoints in the FXIII-substituted group. The study showed that a low initial FXIII level correlated with the clinical course in this trauma cohort, but a substitution of FXIII did not improve endpoints within the range of the studied FXIII levels. Future prospective studies should investigate the utility of FXIII measurement and lower threshold values of FXIII, which trigger substitution in trauma patients.