Thromboprophylaxis with argatroban in critically ill patients with sepsis: a review.

During sepsis, an initial prothrombotic shift takes place, in which coagulatory acute-phase proteins are increased, while anticoagulatory factors and platelet count decrease. Further on, the fibrinolytic system becomes impaired, which contributes to disease severity. At a later stage in sepsis, coagulation factors may become depleted, and sepsis patients may shift into a hypo-coagulable state with an increased bleeding risk.

Accuracy of a Single, Heparin-Calibrated Anti-Xa Assay for the Measurement of Rivaroxaban, Apixaban, and Edoxaban Drug Concentrations: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Applying a single anti-Xa assay, calibrated to unfractionated heparin to measure rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban would simplify laboratory procedures and save healthcare costs.

Aim: We hypothesized that a heparin-calibrated anti-Xa assay would accurately measure rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban drug concentrations and correctly predict clinically relevant drug levels.

Methods: This analysis is part of the Simple-Xa study, a prospective multicenter cross-sectional study conducted in clinical practice.

The Excretory/Secretory and Surface Proteome Contains Putative Modulators of the Host Coagulation.

is a cardiopulmonary nematode of canids and is, among others, associated with bleeding disorders in dogs. The pathogenesis of such coagulopathies remains unclear. A deep proteomic characterization of sex specific excretory/secretory proteins (ESP) and of cuticular surface proteins was performed, and the effect of ESP on host coagulation and fibrinolysis was evaluated .

Management of bleeding events and invasive procedures in patients with haemophilia A without inhibitors treated with emicizumab.

Introduction: Emicizumab (Hemlibra®, Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland) is now available for haemophilia A patients with or without factor VIII inhibitors. Management of bleeding events and replacement therapy for invasive procedures have to be adapted.

Objective: To provide a practical guidance for the management of breakthrough bleeding events and elective or urgent surgery in adult and paediatric patients with haemophilia A without inhibitors treated with emicizumab.

Efficacy of a new pathogen-reduced cryoprecipitate stored 5 days after thawing to correct dilutional coagulopathy in vitro.

Background: Fibrinogen supplementation during bleeding restores clot strength and hemostasis. Cryoprecipitate, a concentrated source of fibrinogen, has prolonged preparation time for thawing, a short shelf life resulting in frequent wastage, and infectious disease risk. This in vitro study investigated the efficacy of a new pathogen-reduced cryoprecipitate thawed and stored at room temperature for 5 days (PR Cryo) to treat dilutional hypofibrinogenemia, compared to immediately thawed standard cryoprecipitate (Cryo) or fibrinogen concentrate (FC).

Comparison of the efficacy of two human fibrinogen concentrates to treat dilutional coagulopathy in vitro.

Both congenital and acquired fibrinogen deficiency can be safely treated with administration of fibrinogen concentrate. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of a new fibrinogen product (Fibryga) compared to a licensed product (Haemocomplettan) in an in vitro model of dilutional coagulopathy. Ten blood specimens from healthy volunteers were diluted 1:1 with balanced crystalloid solution and subsequently supplemented with each fibrinogen concentrate at a dose replicating in vivo supplementation (50 mg kg).

Influence of cryoprecipitate, Factor XIII, and fibrinogen concentrate on hyperfibrinolysis.

Background: Hyperfibrinolysis is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with poor clot integrity and excessive bleeding. Although antifibrinolytics are an effective treatment, more liberal use of these drugs may lead to a prothrombotic risk, and an earlier and potentially safer treatment option would be desirable. Hyperfibrinolysis has been shown to be attenuated by in vitro supplementation of purified human Factor (F)XIII concentrate.

Impact of rivaroxaban on point-of-care assays.

Background: Point-of-care testing (POCT) is regularly used to assess haemostasis in various clinical settings. The impact of rivaroxaban on those POCT is still elusive. We aimed to study the effects of rivaroxaban on most commonly used POCT assays.

Is viscoelastic coagulation monitoring with ROTEM or TEG validated?

Recent years have seen increasing worldwide interest in the use of viscoelastic coagulation monitoring tests, performed using devices such as ROTEM and TEG. The use of such tests to guide haemostatic therapy may help reduce transfusion of allogeneic blood products in bleeding patients and is supported in European guidelines for managing trauma and severe perioperative bleeding. In addition, viscoelastic tests form the basis of numerous published treatment algorithms.

A brief review of 50 years of perioperative thrombosis and hemostasis management.

Perioperative thrombosis and hemostasis management has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. From two anticoagulants and one anti-aggregant, the number of currently available drugs has recently increased several-fold, leaving clinicians with the problem of choosing the optimal agent. Individualized preoperative assessment of bleeding risk based on bleeding history and testing limited to high-risk patients is an emerging concept.

FIBTEM PLUS provides an improved thromboelastometry test for measurement of fibrin-based clot quality in cardiac surgery patients.

Background: The viscoelastic functional fibrinogen (FF) and FIBTEM assays measure the contribution of fibrin to clot strength. Inhibition of platelet function is a necessary precondition for these tests to work. We investigated a novel test for measuring fibrin-based clotting, FIBTEM PLUS, in cardiac surgery and compared it with FF and FIBTEM.

Variability between laboratories performing coagulation tests with identical platforms: a nationwide evaluation study.

Background: While the assessment of analytical precision within medical laboratories has received much attention in scientific enquiry, the degree of as well as the sources causing variation between them remains incompletely understood. In this study, we quantified the variance components when performing coagulation tests with identical analytical platforms in different laboratories and computed intraclass correlations coefficients (ICC) for each coagulation test.

Methods: Data from eight laboratories measuring fibrinogen twice in twenty healthy subjects with one out of 3 different platforms and single measurements of prothrombin time (PT), and coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XIII were analysed.

Perioperative diclofenac application during video-assisted thoracic surgery pleurodesis modulates early inflammatory and fibrinolytic processes in an experimental model.

Background/purpose: It has been substantiated that the quality of pleurodesis is reduced when non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used perioperatively. The effects of NSAID administration on the early inflammatory and fibrinolytic processes after mechanical pleurodesis were investigated in an established pig model.

Methods: Left-sided mechanical pleural abrasion was performed on 24 pigs assigned to either an NSAID or a control group.

[The new Anticoagulants - Relevant Facts for the GP].

Goal of this article is to select three molecules from all the candidates currently under clincial development and to present and comapre their characteristics. Dabigatran is a direct thrombin (FIIa) inhibitor, whereas Rivaroxaban and Apixaban are direct factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors. All three represent small molecules thatreversibly, rapidly and directly bind to their target, the active center of the respective activated coagulation factor.

Immunomodulatory drugs increase endothelial tissue factor expression in vitro.

Introduction: Immunomodulatory compounds such as thalidomide (THL) and lenalidomide (LEN) represent treatment options for multiple myeloma. Venous thromboembolism is a potential complication of immunomodulatory treatment in myeloma patients. The optimal thromboprophylactic strategy to prevent this drug-induced hypercoagulable state is debated.

In vitro factor XIII supplementation increases clot firmness in Rotation Thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

Factor XIII (F XIII) is an essential parameter for final clot stability. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the addition of factor (F)XIII on clot stability as assessed by Rotation Thromboelastometry (ROTEM). In 90 intensive care patients ROTEM measurements were performed after in vitro addition of F XIII 0.

Hypercoagulability in the perioperative period.

One of the greatest disappointments associated with a successful surgical procedure is a thrombotic or thrombo-embolic complication in the postoperative period. Morbidity and mortality of the perioperative period are related, to a relevant degree, to perioperative thrombo-embolic events. Ranging from simple deep venous thrombosis to pulmonary embolism or arterial thrombosis, this class of complication invariably increases length of hospital stay or may result in mortality.

Two different hematocrit detection methods: different methods, different results?

Background: Less is known about the influence of hematocrit detection methodology on transfusion triggers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare two different hematocrit-assessing methods. In a total of 50 critically ill patients hematocrit was analyzed using (1) blood gas analyzer (ABLflex 800) and (2) the central laboratory method (ADVIA® 2120) and compared.

Rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) stability and reproducibility over time.

Background: Thromboelastometry is a whole blood assay performed to evaluate the viscoelastic properties during blood clot formation and lysis. Rotation thromboelastography (ROTEM), Pentapharm GmbH, Munich, Germany) has overcome some of the limitations of classic thromboelastography. So far, no clinical validation on reproducibility (inter- and intra-assay variability) and sample stability over time has been published.

Kinetics of D-dimer after general surgery.

D-dimers may be elevated after surgery. However, the kinetics of postoperative D-dimers remains unknown hampering the use of D-dimer testing in surgical patients with suspected venous thromboembolism. D-dimer levels were prospectively measured in 154 patients after general surgery at predefined time points (kinetics were determined in an initial cohort of 108 patients; for validation, these findings were applied to a second cohort of 46 patients).