Pharmacotherapy
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Review
Potential Role of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in the Management of Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a rare, potentially life-threatening condition secondary to unfractionated heparin or low molecular weight heparin exposure. This immune-mediated drug reaction manifests as thrombocytopenia with a paradoxical hypercoagulable state that can result in life-threatening thrombosis. It is imperative to ensure cessation of heparin-based products as soon as HIT is identified. ⋯ Twenty-seven articles met inclusion criteria for review: 1 prospective trial, 5 retrospective cohort studies, and 21 case reports totaling 104 patients treated with a DOAC for HIT. The DOACs prevented new and recurrent thrombosis in 98% (n=102) of cases, and bleeding complications occurred in 3% (n=3). While current literature remains limited, it is suggestive of a potential role of DOACs for HIT, which has led to their integration into the 2018 American Society Hematology Guidelines with a conditional recommendation.
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Continuous intravenous (IV) infusion bumetanide has been associated with severe myalgia in case reports, and the package labeling lists a reported incidence of 0.2% for severe myalgia. The primary objective of this study was to quantify the incidence of bumetanide infusion-induced severe myalgia in patients with acute heart failure (AHF). Secondary objectives were to assess a dose-response relationship between bumetanide infusion rate and occurrence of myalgia and to investigate potential risk factors associated with bumetanide-induced myalgia. ⋯ The incidence of severe myalgia in patients with AHF receiving bumetanide infusion was 5.8%, 29-fold higher than incidence rate listed in the package labeling. Patients receiving infusion rates > 1 mg/hour were 4-fold more likely to experience bumetanide-induced severe myalgia than those receiving rates ≤ 1 mg/hour.
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The authors describe a case of unfractionated heparin (UFH) unresponsiveness in the operating room secondary to reversal of rivaroxaban with coagulation factor Xa (recombinant) inactivated-zhzo (andexanet alfa). A 70-year-old man with a known 4.5- to 5.0-cm abdominal aortic aneurysm and atrial fibrillation managed with rivaroxaban presented with severe right-sided flank pain radiating to the left side of his abdomen. Computed tomography-angiography on arrival demonstrated a left retroperitoneal hematoma and a suspected ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. ⋯ During surgery, he received a total of 14,000 units (167 units/kg) of UFH with minimal changes in activated clotting time (132-144 sec; baseline 135 sec [reference range 74-137 sec]). This case highlights the potential complications of using UFH anticoagulation following reversal of factor Xa inhibitors with andexanet alfa and underscores the importance of peri-procedural anticoagulation planning. For patients who require intra-operative anticoagulation, providers should consider anticoagulation reversal with prothrombin complex concentrate instead of andexanet alfa or administration of a parenteral direct thrombin inhibitor, such as argatroban or bivalirudin during the surgical procedure.