Abstract
Fixed-dose prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) for the reversal of vitamin K antagonists may decrease the incidence of thromboembolic events, treatment costs, and treatment delays. However, the ideal fixed dose is unknown, with some studies showing inadequate reversal with suboptimal dosing or in patients with a higher international normalized ratio (INR) or weight. This indicates a need for a modified fixed-dose strategy that considers weight and INR. This study was a retrospective chart review comparing efficacy and safety outcomes of the standard variable-dose protocol versus a fixed-dose protocol. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved INR reversal. Of the total of 113 patients reviewed, INR reversal to < 1.5 was achieved in 23 patients (46%) in the variable-dose group versus 27 patients (43%) in the fixed-dose group (P = 0.83). Of the 27 patients with ICH, INR reversal to ≤ 1.3 was achieved in five patients (71%) in the variable dose group versus ten patients (50%) in the fixed-dose group (P = 0.41). The rate of INR reversal did not differ significantly between groups, but the fixed-dose group used less PCCs and had lower treatment costs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hemphill JC, Greenberg SM, Anderson CS, Becker K, Bendok BR, Cushman M, et al. Guidelines for the management of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Vol. 46, Stroke. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2015. p. 2032–60.
CSL Behring 1.14.1.3 Draft labeling text prothrombin complex concentrate (Human), Kcentra TM.
Tomaselli GF, Mahaffey KW, Cuker A, Dobesh PP, Doherty JU, Eikelboom JW, et al. 2017 ACC Expert consensus decision pathway on management of bleeding in patients on oral anticoagulants: a report of the american college of cardiology task force on expert consensus decision pathways. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017;70:3042–67.
Sarode R, Milling TJ, Refaai MA, Mangione A, Schneider A, Durn BL, et al. Efficacy and safety of a 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate in patients on vitamin K antagonists presenting with major bleeding: a randomized, plasma-controlled, phase IIIb study. Circulation. 2013;128:1234–43.
Schwebach AA, Waybright RA, Johnson TJ. Fixed-dose four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for vitamin K antagonist reversal: does one dose fit all? Pharmacother J Hum Pharmacol Drug Ther. 2019;39:599–608.
Scott R, Kersten B, Basior J, Nadler M. Evaluation of fixed-dose four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for emergent warfarin reversal in patients with intracranial hemorrhage. J Emerg Med. 2018;54:861–6.
Abdoellakhan RA, Miah IP, Khorsand N, Meijer K, Jellema K. Fixed versus variable dosing of prothrombin complex concentrate in vitamin K antagonist-related intracranial hemorrhage: a retrospective analysis. Neurocrit Care. 2017;26:64–9.
Klein L, Peters J, Miner J, Gorlin J. Evaluation of fixed dose 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for emergent warfarin reversal. Am J Emerg Med. 2015;33:1213–8.
Astrup G, Sarangarm P, Burnett A. Fixed dose 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for the emergent reversal of warfarin: a retrospective analysis. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2018;45:300–5.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors of this study have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Ethical standards
No human participants were included in this study.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
About this article
Cite this article
Bizzell, A.C., Mousavi, M.K. & Yin, E. Fixed- versus variable-dose prothrombin complex concentrate protocol for vitamin K antagonist reversal. Int J Hematol 114, 334–341 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-021-03176-w
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-021-03176-w