Outcome of intracranial bleeding managed with prothrombin complex concentrate in patients on direct factor Xa inhibitors or vitamin K antagonists

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is the most feared complication of anticoagulation with a high mortality and morbidity. Before registration of a specific reversal agent for factor Xa inhibitors (FXa-I), international guidelines recommended prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC), which also is the specific reversal agent for vitamin K antagonists (VKA). In two contemporary cohorts, we compared clinical outcomes between patients with FXa-I and VKA related ICH treated with PCC between 2014 and 2018. Primary outcome was effective hemostasis after 24 h, according to the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis definition. Safety outcomes were defined as venous and arterial thromboembolic complications and death within 30 days. Thirty-six patients with FXa-I-ICH and 39 patients with VKA-ICH were available for analysis. Baseline characteristics were comparable between both groups, except for time from start of symptoms to presentation at the hospital. In the FXa-I-ICH cohort, 24 (73%) patients achieved effective hemostasis compared to 23 (62%) patients in the VKA-ICH cohort (crude odds ratio [OR] 1.62 [95%CI 0.59-4.48], adjusted OR 1.45 [95%CI 0.44-4.83]). Eight (24%) patients with FXa-I-ICH deceased compared to 17 (45%) patients with VKA-ICH (crude OR 0.38 [95%CI 0.14-1.24], adjusted OR 0.41 [95%CI 0.12-1.24]). In this observational cohort study, the outcome of ICH managed with PCC was similar in patients with FXa-I-ICH and in patients with VKA-ICH.

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.