Hamostaseologie
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The doses of these drugs are barely tested and the potential clinical thromboembolic risk must be taken into account. Despite the widespread use of NOAC (non vitamin-K dependent oral anticoagulants) and recommendations of regulatory agencies and first consensus meeting on handling the bleeding situation under NOAC, especially in hospitals without a large hemostatic focus, uncertainty still exists. In case of mild bleeding from a clinical perspective, the medical care of these patients and the delay of the next dose or discontinuation is advised. A special laboratory analysis is indicated i.e. in case of known higher grade liver and kidney failure, which can cause a prolonged elimination of NOAC. The administration of factor concentrates is not indicated in this situation. In case of moderate to severe bleeding, the primary measures focus on the stabilization of the heart and circulatory function and parallel on the treatment depending on the localization of the bleeding source. According to experience, mostly gastrointestinal bleeding occurs under the NOAC, which should be supplied endoscopically. In life-threatening bleeding in addition to the measures of hemodynamic stabilization usually a special haemostasis management is required, which should be mainly clinically oriented. After the assessment of bleeding predictor, the time of the last dose and the dose of NOAC should be learned, but other causes of bleeding, including Fibrinolysis, should be excluded or treated. Subsequently, routinely promptly rivaroxaban and/or apixaban sensitive thromboplastin time (Quick's value) and a thrombin time (thrombin-poor calibrator) for qualitative assessment can be carried out because only very few hospitals have specific tests (anti-Xa measurements, bovine thrombin), which could be promptly done. If there is a significant deviation from the normal range or to present preliminary value of particular patient, an effect of NOAC most likely exists. In life-threatening bleeding the use of factor concentrates (procoagulants) is indicated. The first-line therapy should be PPSB. Only in exceptional cases, especially when dabigatran is taken, the use of aPPSB (FEIBA®) for prompt haemostasis can be considered. The haemostasis should be always clinically estimated and not according to coagulation tests. The use of rFVIIa (Novo Seven®) shows different results in the bleeding therapy (reversal) under Dabigatran. The doses of these drugs are barely tested and the potential clinical thromboembolic risk must be taken into account. ⋯ The current concepts of the newly developed antidotes are not clinically validated. First prospective, clinical registries have been started.
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Fear of bleeding is a common barrier to the use of anticoagulants. Warfarin has been the only oral anticoagulant for more than 60 years and warfarin-related bleeding is reported to be the most common drug-related cause of emergency hospitalization in elderly Americans. Non-vitamin K oral antagonists were introduced five years ago and compared with warfarin are associated with lower risk of intracranial bleeding, and similar or lower case fatality after major bleeding. ⋯ In patients with ongoing bleeding despite supportive measures and in those with life-threatening bleeding, consideration may be given to the use of general hemostatic agents. Experimental and animal evidence suggests that 3 and 4 factor prothrombin complex concentrates can improve hemostasis in the presence of a NOAC and this is reinforced by anecdotal evidence in humans. Specific antidotes are currently in phase 3 trials and could become available in the near future.
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Published data on thrombin generation variables and their correlation with thromboelastometry in the healthy population are scarce. This study aimed at assessing thrombin generation in adults and its correlation to classical rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). ⋯ The age-related changes in CAT and ROTEM variables among adults are not linear. There is a significant correlation, although with a moderate slope, between data from CAT measured with 5 pmol/l tissue factor and ROTEM.
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One of many challenges in the treatment of persons with haemophilia is the selection and application of appropriate pain-relieving therapies. The current situation of pain management for persons with haemophilia in Germany was evaluated using a survey with the intention of identifying potential areas for improvement. Results of 685 respondents showed that 86% experienced episodes of pain and that pain was already present in 66% of children and adolescents. Joint pain was the most common type of pain (92%), remarkably so even in 80% of young patients. Half of the patients received pharmacological therapy for the pain and 46% of the patients received physiotherapy. Priority and sequence of the contacted physicians and therapists for diagnosis and therapy is described. Satisfaction with pain therapy was expressed by 56% of participants and 18% felt their pain not treated sufficiently. ⋯ The results of the survey will be used to develop measures for improvement of long-term care of haemophilia patients regarding pain therapy.