No abstract

Background-Rivaroxaban and dabigatran are new oral anticoagulants that specifically inhibit factor Xa and thrombin, respectively. Clinical studies on the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolism show promising results. A major disadvantage of these anticoagulants is the absence of an antidote in case of serious bleeding or when an emergency intervention needs immediate correction of coagulation. This study evaluated the potential of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) to reverse the anticoagulant effect of these drugs. Methods and Results-In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 12 healthy male volunteers received rivaroxaban 20 mg twice daily (nϭ6) or dabigatran 150 mg twice daily (nϭ6) for 2 1 ⁄2 days, followed by either a single bolus of 50 IU/kg PCC (Cofact) or a similar volume of saline. After a washout period, this procedure was repeated with the other anticoagulant treatment. Rivaroxaban induced a significant prolongation of the prothrombin time (15.8Ϯ1.3 versus 12.3Ϯ0.7 seconds at baseline; PϽ0.001) that was immediately and completely reversed by PCC (12.8Ϯ1.0; PϽ0.001). The endogenous thrombin potential was inhibited by rivaroxaban (51Ϯ22%; baseline, 92Ϯ22%; Pϭ0.002) and normalized with PCC (114Ϯ26%; PϽ0.001), whereas saline had no effect. Dabigatran increased the activated partial thromboplastin time, ecarin clotting time (ECT), and thrombin time. Administration of PCC did not restore these coagulation tests. Conclusion-Prothrombin

The contrast-devoid core of revascularized STEMI contains extensive erythrocyte extravasation with microvascular damage. Attenuating the reperfusion-induced haemorrhage may be a novel target in future adjunctive STEMI treatment.

To cite this article: Levi M, Eerenberg E, Kamphuisen PW. Bleeding risk and reversal strategies for old and new anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents. J Thromb Haemost 2011; 9: 1705-12.Summary. The most important adverse effect of antithrombotic treatment is the occurrence of bleeding. In the case of severe bleeding in a patient who uses anticoagulant agents or when a patient on anticoagulants needs to undergo an urgent invasive procedure, it may be useful to reverse anticoagulant treatment. Conventional anticoagulants such as vitamin K antagonists may be neutralized by administration of vitamin K or prothrombin complex concentrates, whereas heparin and heparin derivatives can be counteracted by protamine sulphate. The anti-hemostatic effect of aspirin and other antiplatelet strategies can be corrected by the administration of platelet concentrate and/or desmopressin, if needed. Recently, a new generation of anticoagulants with a greater specificity towards activated coagulation factors as well as new antiplatelet agents have been introduced and these drugs show promising results in clinical studies. A limitation of these new agents may be the lack of an appropriate strategy to reverse the effect if a bleeding event occurs, although experimental studies show hopeful results for some of these agents.