Perioperative pharmacokinetics of factor VII concentrate during liver surgery in a patient with congenital factor VII deficiency: an individual mathematical model

Prophylaxis with recombinant-activated factor VII (rFVIIa) for minimally invasive surgery in a patient with congenital factor VII deficiency: a case report with a single-low dose of rFVIIa

Congenital factor VII deficiency is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder and surgery in patients with factor VII deficiency has been reported to be endangered by intraoperative or postoperative bleeding, unless a replacement therapy is used. In this paper, we report a successful prophylaxis with single and low dose rFVIIa (12.5 microg kg(-1)) in a 22-year-old homozygote factor VII deficient patient who underwent laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Minimally invasive surgeries, such as laparoscopic surgery, could be safely performed in patients with congenital factor VII using single and low dose rFVIIa combined with vigilant clinical observation and laboratory examination.

Prophylactic effect of recombinant factor VIIa in factor VII deficient patients

Inherited factor VII (FVII) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with a bleeding tendency. We describe three patients with congenital FVII deficiency who have been treated with activated recombinant factor VII (rVIIa). Two patients had novel mutations and were treated prophylactically with 1.2 mg rVIIa two to three times a week. Patients 1 and 2 had a severe bleeding tendency. The frequency and severity of bleeding decreased by treatment with rVIIa compared with similar treatment with plasma-derived FVII. The third patient with a moderate bleeding phenotype was treated on demand and showed no change in the frequency of bleeding upon treatment with rVIIa or plasma products. The beneficial effect of rVIIa cannot be explained by the rVIIa half-lives. Pharmacokinetical analysis showed rVIIa activity half-lives of 35, 50 and 54 min for patients 1, 2 and 3, respectively. In conclusion, prophylactic treatment of FVII deficient patients with rVIIa appears to be applicable, safe and successful, although the mechanism of action remains to be elucidated.