Are Direct Oral Anticoagulants Plasma Concentrations Associated with the Risk of Postoperative Bleeding? Results from the Real Life Cohort

Abstract Background The perioperative management (PM) of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is controversial. The role of assessing DOAC plasma levels in order to ensure a safe use of these anticoagulants is still unknown. Aims To examine the association between DOACs plasma concentrations obtained before surgery and the risk of postoperative bleeding in the perioperative setting. Methods From June 2014 to December 2015 we have consecutively included 99 patients treated with DOACs and referred to our Unit for PM. Management was performed following the PM recommendations from the Catalan Thrombosis Working Group (Tromboc@t) . Bleeding events were classified following the ISTH criteria. Plasma concentrations were measured in the day of invasive procedure using the Technoclone anti-Xa assay from Technoclone (Vienna-Austria) for Rivaroxaban and Apixaban, and the Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Assay from IL (Bedford-MA-USA) for Dabigatran; in each case, specific calibrators were used. Patients were systematically followed 30 days after the surgical procedure. Results A total of 99 patients were recruited. Median age was 76 years (range: 61-94) and 51 (51.5%) were female. Among them, 23 patients received dabigatran, 40 rivaroxaban and 36 apixaban. As per the risk scores, 66.7% of the patients had a CHA2DS2-VASc score >3, 57.6% had a HAS-BLED score >3, and 51 (51.5%) were considered high-risk procedures. Total bleeding events occurred in 23 patients (47.8% minor, 30.4% non-major clinically relevant, and 21.7% major bleeding). The median plasma NOACs concentration was 38.3 ng/ml (0.8-226 ng/ml), with 32 patients having levels >30 ng/mL. HASBLED score > 3 was associated with an increased risk of bleeding events within 30 days (hazard ratio (HR)= 3.9, 95% CI= 1.14-13.4, P=0.03). Plasma DOAC levels > 30 ng/ml were not significantly associated with an increased risk of bleeding events (HR=2.17, 95% CI=0.862-6.67, P=0.10). Major bleeding (n=5) was probably associated with the risk of the procedure than to the DOAC plasma concentrations. Conclusion In our cohort we found significant association between the individual bleeding risk before surgery with the risk of postoperative bleeding. In spite of that, this study will continue to reevaluate PM in high-risk procedures according to plasma DOAC levels. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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The Risk of Bleeding in Patients Receiving Ibrutinib Combined with Novel Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-125356 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 4314-4314

Author(s):

Michal Ariela Raz ◽

Jon E. Arnason ◽

Osnat Bairey ◽

Lev Shvidel ◽

Ariel Aviv ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastrointestinal Tract ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Lymphoproliferative Disorders ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Concurrent Administration ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Grade 3

Introduction: Ibrutinib, an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, is an established therapeutic agent in a variety of B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Ibrutinib induces platelet dysfunction and concurrent treatment with ibrutinib and warfarin was shown to significantly increase the risk of bleeding. The current study was designed to investigate the safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients receiving ibrutinib, considering their expanding employment together with the lack of data regarding their safety in patients receiving ibrutinib. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate risks of major bleeding in patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (CLL, MCL, DLBCL, MZL or WM) that were treated with ibrutinib and DOACs but without concurrent antiplatelet therapy, between January 2010 and October 2018 in 5 participating centers. Patient medical charts were reviewed for demographic parameters, comorbidities, ibrutinib dosage, DOACs dosage (including the adjustment for renal function), blood count and chemistry tests, bleeding site and grade. Results: The study included 30 patients, median age at starting concurrent administration of ibrutinib and DOACs was 71.58 years (range 50.9-88.2). Most patients were treated for CLL (n=18, 60%) and MCL (n=8, 26%). The most common daily doses of ibrutinib were 420 mg and 560 mg in 63.3% and 30% of patients respectively. None of the patients received an additional antiplatelet agent. Twenty-three patients were treated with apixaban (76.7%), 4 with rivaroxaban (13.3%) and 3 (10%) with dabigatran. The main indications for DOACs were atrial fibrillation and VTE (venous thromboembolism). The median follow-up after initiation of the ibrutinib-DOAC combination was 13.4 months (range 1.8-47.9 months). Bleeding was reported in 22 patients (73.3%), mostly mucocutaneous (n=12, 40%) and gastrointestinal tract (n=7, 23.3%), followed by CNS bleeding (n=4, 13.3%). Mucocutaneous bleedings were all grade 1-2 and gastrointestinal tract and CNS bleeding events were grade 1-4. Major bleeding events, defined as grade 3 or 4, occurred in 5 patients (16.6%) and did not result in death of any of the patients. The median time for bleeding following ibrutinib-DOAC initiation was 5.6 months. Over a follow-up period of 21 months of combined treatment, the incidence of bleeding events (of all grades) increased to 75% (Figure 1). Incidence of bleeding events (including all grades) was quite similar between all DOAC subtypes (73.9% with apixaban, 75% with rivaroxaban and 66.7% with dabigatran). No statistically significant predictors for increased risk of bleeding in patients receiving ibrutinib combined with DOACs were detected. Ibrutinib was stopped in 8 patients (26.7%) due to grade 1 to 4 bleeding events and was re-initiated in 6 patients, resulting in recurrent grade 3 and 4 bleeding events in 2 patients. Conclusions: Concurrent administration of DOACs and ibrutinib appears to be feasible. However, risk of bleeding is not neglectable, and treatment resumption in patients that experienced a significant bleeding event should be considered with caution. Disclosures Arnason: Celgene/Juno: Consultancy; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Consultancy. Herishanu:Roche: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria.

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External validation of the VTE-BLEED score for predicting major bleeding in stable anticoagulated patients with venous thromboembolism

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th16-10-0810 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 117 (06) ◽

pp. 1164-1170 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Frederikus A. Klok ◽

Stefano Barco ◽

Stavros V. Konstantinides

Keyword(s):

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

High Risk ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

External Validation ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Bleeding Risk ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Study Population

SummaryOne of the main determinants of establishing the optimal treatment duration of patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the risk of major bleeding during long-term anticoagulant therapy. The 6-variable VTE-BLEED score was recently developed to enable estimation of this bleeding risk. This study aimed at externally validating VTE-BLEED. This was a post-hoc study of the randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, Hokusai-VTE study that compared edoxaban versus warfarin for treatment of VTE. VTE-BLEED was calculated in all 8,240 study patients. The numbers of adjudicated major bleeding events during ‘stable anticoagulation’, i. e. occurring after day 30, in patients with low (total score <2 points) and high risk of bleeding (total score ≥2 points) were compared for the overall study population, patients randomised to edoxaban or warfarin, and for important patient subcategories. During ‘stable’ anticoagulation, major bleeding occurred in 1.02% (40/3,903) and 0.82% (32/3,899) of patients treated with warfarin and edoxaban, respectively. For the overall study population, the risks of bleeding in the low and high risk groups were 0.51% and 2.03%, respectively, for an odds ratio (OR) of 4.04 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.51–6.48). ORs were 5.04 (95%CI: 2.62–9.69) and 3.09 (95%CI: 1.54–6.22) for warfarin and edoxaban, respectively. VTE-BLEED was consistently able to identify patients at a 2.5- to 11-fold higher bleeding risk across all the predefined subcategories, as well as for the treatment period between day 30 to day 180, and beyond day 180. In conclusion, patients identified as high risk by VTE-BLEED had a four-fold increased risk of bleeding during the chronic phase of treatment.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.

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Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Vs. Low Molecular Weight Heparin As Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients with Active Cancer Therapy and Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-128300 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 3661-3661

Author(s):

Pável E Olivera ◽

César A Velasquez ◽

Desirée Campoy ◽

Gonzalo Artaza ◽

Tania Canals ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Therapy ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Antineoplastic Therapy ◽

Anticoagulant Therapy ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Active Cancer

BACKGROUND Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (NVAF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia among patients with cancer. Anticoagulation in this setting is associated with a higher rate of clinically relevant major and non-major bleeding and therefore, can be especially challenging. Due to concerns about drug interactions in patients receiving chemo-immunoterapy, Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) has been the most commonly prescribed anticoagulant for stroke prevention as a substitute for vitamin K antagonists. Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOAC) are an increasing alternative for anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention in NVAF, but there are are still limited data regarding it's effectiveness and safety for cancer patients receiving active treatment. AIMS To assess the effectiveness and safety according to DOAC or LMWH treatment, and to determine the rate of anticoagulant-associated clinically relevant bleeding-free survival in a cohort of cancer patients with NVAF receiving active treatment. METHODS From April 2016 to December 2018 we consecutively included NVAF patients with active cancer therapy treated with DOAC or LMWH in a prospective multicenter registry. Patients with prosthetic valves or a life expectancy of less than one month were excluded from this study. Active cancer therapy was defined as evidence of neoplasm with ongoing antineoplastic therapy (chemo-immunotherapy or hormonal treatment). Pharmacological interactions check-up was performed prior election of treatment. Demographic, laboratory, cancer diagnosis, and antineoplastic therapy data were collected. Patients had a minimum follow-up (FU) of 6 months. In patients who received antineoplastic therapy with a potential DOAC interaction, plasma drug concentrations were measured during the FU using the Direct Thrombin Inhibitor Assay from IL (Bedford-MA-USA) for Dabigatran and the Technoclone anti-Xa assay from Technoclone (Vienna-Austria) for Rivaroxaban. Bleeding events were classified according to ISTH criteria. RESULTS A total of 302 patients with NVAF and active cancer therapy were included. Among all patients, 192 (63.5%) were treated with DOAC (20 dabigatran, 24 rivaroxaban, 80 apixaban and 68 edoxaban) and 110 with LMWH. Mean FU was 14.8 and 12.5 months (DOAC vs LMWH; p:0.53). Demographic characteristics and cancer subtypes and drugs are summarised in table 1 and 2, respectively. In LMWH group, 81.8% (n=90) of patients received full-dose of LMWH, 13.6% (n=15) intermediate dose and only a 4.5% patients received prophylactic doses. Plasma concentrations were measured in 2 patients receiving dabigatran 110 mg twice daily and enzalutamide. Trough level of our patients was 132.4 and 126.8 ng/mL (12 hours after the last dose). Rivaroxaban plasma samples were collected in 3 patients who received doxorubicin as part of chemotherapy regimen. Plasma rivaroxaban levels, determined 4 hours and 24 hours of the last dose, ranged from 112.4 to 432.3 ng/ml and 49.8 to 216 ng/ml, respectively. Considering these results, DOACs were maintained during antineoplastic treatment. Stroke or systemic embolism occurred in three patients in the DOAC group (1.04 %/year) and seven patients in the LMWH group (7.2 %/year) [DOAC vs LMWH; p<0.05]. Major bleeding occurred in eight patients in the DOAC group (4.1%/year) and seven patients in the LMWH group (6.5%/year). All reported mortality was disease related. The bleeding-free survival rates were not statistically different between DOAC vs LMWH. CONCLUSIONS In our cohort, the stroke and systemic embolism rate was higher in the LMWH group without significant differences in relation to major bleeding events. Further investigations on the optimal management of cancer patients with active therapy and NVAF treated with DOAC are needed. Meanwhile, determining DOAC plasma concentrations could be of profit to personalize anticoagulant therapy for patients with unpredictable drug interactions. Anticoagulation units play a crucial role in offering the best personalised therapy. Disclosures Sierra: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria.

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The Impact of Body Weight and Renal Function on the Risk of Bleeding With Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation

Annals of Pharmacotherapy ◽

10.1177/1060028021995201 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106002802199520

Author(s):

Hannah Whittemore ◽

Andrew K. Posen ◽

Erika L. Hellenbart ◽

Vicki Groo ◽

Eric Wenzler ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Renal Function ◽

Body Weight ◽

Renal Dysfunction ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of stroke and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are first-line agents for prevention. Gaps in the literature cause reluctance in prescribing DOACs for patients with renal dysfunction and/or extremes in body weight. Objective: To evaluate the impact body weight and renal function have on major and clinically relevant nonmajor (CRNM) bleeding events and ischemic strokes in AF patients receiving a DOAC. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adults with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) or atrial flutter (AFL) receiving a DOAC ≥12 months. The primary outcome was a composite of major and CRNM bleeding events. Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke and risk factors for bleeding events. Results: Of the 233 patients analyzed, 25 patients experienced a bleeding event. Patients who bled weighed 10 kg less ( P = 0.043) than those who did not and had a higher HASBLED score ( P = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression identified weight ( P = 0.048), serum creatinine (SCr; P = 0.027), and HASBLED score ( P = 0.024) as the significant predictors for experiencing a bleed. Three patients experienced a stroke. Conclusion and Relevance: This study demonstrates an association between higher baseline SCr, elevated HASBLED score, and lower weight, with an increased risk of bleeding in patients with NVAF or AFL receiving a DOAC. These findings add to prescribing considerations when initiating DOACs. Closer monitoring is advised for patients with significant renal dysfunction and/or low body weight, even with renal dose adjustments.

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The prevention and treatment of bleeding associated with direct oral anticoagulants

Clinical Medicine (Russian Journal) ◽

10.30629/0023-2149-2020-98-7-491-497 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 96 (7) ◽

pp. 491-497

Author(s):

Ya. A. Noskov ◽

A. S. Polyakov ◽

E. S. Bratilova ◽

V. V. Tyrenko

Keyword(s):

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Thrombin Inhibitor ◽

Factor X ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Course Of Action ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Attending Physician

Direct оral Anticoagulants (DOACs) include direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran) and factor X inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, betrixaban). The) are widely used worldwide for the prevention and treatment of venous thrombosis. The popularity of DOACs is explained by convenient and predictable pharmacodynamics, the lack of need for regular monitoring of the therapeutic effect, as well as more predictable food-drug interaction and bioavailability. However, like any other anticoagulants, DOACs are characterized by an increased risk of bleeding, especially gastrointestinal one. The correct approach to the prescription of DOACs and prevention of bleeding during treatment including the intake of anticoagulants can significantly reduce the probability of life-threatening complications. In the case of bleeding, the use of specific and nonspecific DOACs antidotes is indicated. Significant bleeding requires the attending physician to know a clear course of action in accordance with published algorithms to save the patient’s life.

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Complex antithrombotic therapy and bleeding risk in patients with peripheral arterial disease

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2396 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

A Tseng ◽

S Bhatt ◽

M Girardo ◽

D Liedl ◽

P Wennberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peripheral Arterial Disease ◽

Triple Therapy ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Antithrombotic Therapy ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Bleeding Risk ◽

Arterial Disease ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Peripheral Arterial

Abstract Introduction Antiplatelet therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for many atherosclerotic vascular pathologies including peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Patients with PAD often have comorbid conditions that require complex antithrombotic therapy, i.e. combined antiplatelet and anticoagulation. Methods All adult patients undergoing ankle brachial index (ABI) measurements were included in the study. ABI values between 1.00 and 1.40 were considered normal, and values below 1.00 or above 1.40 were considered PAD. Demographic, comorbidity and outcome data were obtained using diagnostic codes from the electronic health record. Three medication classes were analyzed: aspirin, non-aspirin oral antiplatelets (e.g. P2Y12 inhibitors) and oral anticoagulants (warfarin and the direct oral anticoagulants). Medication use was determined for patients who had been on a medication for at least one year. Cox proportional hazard analysis for the time to first bleeding event was analyzed. Bleeding was defined as any bleeding requiring medical evaluation (including clinically-relevant non-major bleeding and major bleeding). Results In all, 40,144 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 66±15, 43% female). Patients with PAD were more likely to be on double therapy (one antiplatelet with anticoagulation) (28% vs 19%) and triple therapy (dual antiplatelet with anticoagulation) (10% vs 4%). Unadjusted hazard ratios for bleeding risk showed increased risk of bleeding for patients with PAD (1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08–1.29), though the association is no longer present after adjustment for antithrombotic therapy. Adjusting for age, sex and PAD class, compared to no antithrombotic therapy, there was increased risk of bleeding for monotherapy (1.91, 95% CI: 1.61–2.26), double therapy (3.40, 95% CI: 2.89–4.00) and triple therapy (5.00, 95% CI: 4.21–5.96). Among medications, aspirin and anticoagulant use was independently associated with the greatest increase in risk of bleeding. Conclusion Patients in PAD are at increased risk of bleeding secondary to antithrombotic therapy. Complex antithrombotic therapy with double or triple therapy confer additional bleeding risk, particularly regimens containing aspirin and oral anticoagulants. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Apixaban versus Warfarin in Patients with Left Ventricular (LV) Thrombus, a prospective randomized trial

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.1545 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

R Alcalai ◽

R Rashad ◽

A Butnaru ◽

G Moravsky ◽

D Leibowitz

Keyword(s):

Major Bleeding ◽

Thrombus Formation ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Systemic Embolism ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Open Label ◽

Warfarin Group ◽

Acute Mi

Abstract Background Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) have an elevated risk of stroke, mostly due to left ventricular (LV) thrombus formation, which typically occur within the first 2 weeks following an anterior MI. Currently the recommended management of LV thrombus after acute MI is anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonist. To date, there are no prospective data on the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACS) for stroke prevention in the setting of LV thrombus. Aim To assess the efficacy of apixaban vs. warfarin in treating LV thrombus after MI. Methods The study is a prospective, randomized, multi-center open label trial comparing apixaban (at a dose of 5 mg twice daily) with s.c enoxaparin 1mg/kg BID followed by dose-adjusted warfarin to achieve a target international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.0 to 3.0 for 3 months in patients with LV thrombus detected by echocardiography 3 to 14 days after acute MI. The primary outcome was the presence and size of LV thrombus 3 months after initiation of anticoagulation as assessed by 2D echocardiogram. Secondary outcomes were stroke or systemic embolism, major bleeding and death from any cause. Results 25 patients have been enrolled to date in 3 medical centers, 13 were randomized to apixaban and 12 to warfarin. Mean age was 59.8±10.7 and 19 (76%) were males with no difference between the study groups. Mean LV thrombus size at enrollment was 24X15 mm in the apixaban group and 19X14 in the warfarin group (p=NS). After 3 months of treatment thrombus completely resolved in all patients in the warfarin group and in 12 of 13 in the apixaban group. In one patient in the apixaban group who had a very large thrombus of 40x20mm size upon enrollment the thrombus size was reduced significantly to 20x12 after 3 months. No death, stroke or systemic embolism was documented in either group. There were two patients with major bleeding in the warfarin group, one had sub-arachnoid hemorrhage after 2 months and anticoagulation was stopped, and another had GI bleeding after 1 month and was switched to enoxaparin. One patient in the warfarin group refused to continue the treatment after 3 weeks. No major bleeding events were recorded in the apixaban group and all patients completed 3 months of treatment. Conclusions Our preliminary results indicate that apixaban is a safe and effective treatment for patients with LV thrombus post anterior wall MI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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Bleeding Risk in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients Receiving Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-123870 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 3672-3672 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yimin Pearl Wang ◽

Rohan Kehar ◽

Alla Iansavitchene ◽

Alejandro Lazo-Langner

Keyword(s):

Major Bleeding ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Factor Xa ◽

Bleeding Risk ◽

Risk Of Bleeding ◽

Significant Difference

Introduction: The standard oral anticoagulant therapy administered to non-valvular AF patients has typically been Vitamin K Antagonists (VKA) particularly warfarin. In recent years, Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) including Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (DTI) and Direct Factor Xa inhibitors (FXa inhibitors) have become an alternative to warfarin. Randomized trials comparing warfarin and DOACs showed comparable effectiveness without significant additional major bleeding risk. However, bleeding events in RCTs may differ from those in daily use due to the routine exclusion of patients with a higher risk of bleeding from many studies. We aimed to assess bleeding risk between DOACs and warfarin in AF patients in observational studies and we also sought to determine differences between patients that were experienced or naïve to oral anticoagulants. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the OVID MEDLINE® and EMBASE® electronic databases. Observational studies and randomized control trials (RCT) from 1990 to January 2019 were retrieved and examined by two independent reviewers. A pooled effect hazard ratio (HR) was calculated using a random effects model using the generic inverse variance method. Subgroup analyses according to previous exposure to anticoagulants, study type, funding type and DOAC type were conducted. The primary outcome was major bleeding risk. The secondary outcome was clinically relevant non-major bleeding. All studies must have used an established or validated definition of major bleeding. Results: The initial literature search identified 3359 potentially eligible citations. After primary screening, 150 articles were eligible for full text review and there were 35 studies including 2,356,201 patients that met the inclusion criteria. Overall, patients on DOACs were less likely to experience a bleeding event compared to warfarin (HR 0.78, 95%CI 0.71, 0.85, P<0.001). The results were consistent when analyzing patients receiving DTIs or FXa inhibitors (DTI: HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.67,0.87; FXa inhibitors: HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.69,0.89). However, among patients receiving factor Xa inhibitors, there was a significant difference in the risk of bleeding according to individual drug. Among patients receiving rivaroxaban the risk of bleeding was similar to warfarin (HR 0.98, 95%CI 0.91,1.06, p=0.60) whereas in those receiving apixaban there was a 40% reduction in the risk of bleeding compared to warfarin (HR 0.60, 95%CI 0.50,0.71, p<0.001) (Figure 1). Three studies reported information according to previous anticoagulant exposure. The overall pooled hazard ratio was 0.68 (95% CI 0.55, 0.82 p<0.001) in favor of patients on DOACs. In the subgroup analysis of previous anticoagulant use, the risk of bleeding was lower for DOACs compared to warfarin in both the experienced population (HR 0.70, 95%CI 0.51, 0.96) and the naïve population (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.47,0.87). However, heterogeneity was moderate to high among both subgroups. Conclusion: This review and meta-analysis of observational studies including over 2.3 million patients showed that overall DOACs have a lower risk of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding compared to warfarin. Most importantly, although the pooled effect estimate did not differ between DTIs and FXa inhibitors, among patients receiving FXa inhibitors there was a significant difference between individual agents. Patients on apixaban had a significantly lower risk of bleeding compared to warfarin in contrast to patients on rivaroxaban who had a similar risk. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

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Anticoagulation Challenges in Hematogeriatrics: Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants Vs Vitamin k Antagonist in Elderly with Atrial Fibrillation

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-125150 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 1162-1162

Author(s):

Desirée Campoy ◽

Gonzalo Artaza ◽

César A Velasquez ◽

Tania Canals ◽

Erik A Johansson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Elderly Patients ◽

Vitamin K ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Frail Elderly ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Vitamin K Antagonist ◽

Systemic Embolism ◽

Bleeding Events

BACKGROUND Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are increasingly used in patients with Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (NVAF) for stroke prevention. However, Follow-Up (FU) and dosing these agents in the elderly can be challenging due to different factors, such as chronic kidney disease, frailty, falls, multifactorial anemia and concomitant polypharmacy. These factors in elderly patients predisposes to both thromboembolic and bleeding events once atrial fibrillation occurs. Therefore, balancing risks and benefits of antithrombotic strategies in older populations is crucial. Despite recent increases in DOAC use in NVAF, there are still limited data regarding DOACs effectiveness and safety in frail elderly patients. AIM To assess the effectiveness and safety according to DOAC or Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) in a cohort of elderly patients with NVAF. METHODS From April 2016 to April 2019, we consecutively included NVAF elderly patients (≥80 years-old) treated with DOAC or VKA in a prospective multicenter registry. Demographic, laboratory, frailty risk stratification and antithrombotic therapy data were collected. Patients had a minimum FU of 6 months. VKA patients had a standard FU through digital international normalized ratio (INR) control and the efficacy of therapy was determined by the time in therapeutic range (TTR) values from the preceding 6 months of treatment using Rosendaal's method. FU in DOAC patients was performed through structured and integral assessment following the Tromboc@t Working Group recommendations for management in patients receiving DOAC (Olivera et al, Med Clin 2018). Key practical management aspects are listed in the flow chart (Figure 1). Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS score) was assigned to each patient at the beginning and during the FU; patients were classified into three categories: non-frail (CFS 1-4), mild-to-moderately frail (CFS 5-6), and severely frail (CFS 7-9). RESULTS From a total of 1040 NVAF patients, 690 (63.5%) were treated with DOAC (61 dabigatran, 95 rivaroxaban, 254 edoxaban and 280 apixaban) and 350 with VKA. In the VKA group, the mean TTR was 52.8%. Demographic characteristics and CFS score are summarized in table 1. Kaplan-Meier analysis (median FU: 16.5 months) showed a significantly high incidence of stroke/systemic embolism among VKA patients vs DOAC patients (4.2 vs 0.5 events per 100 patient-years, p<0.001). Major bleeding in the DOAC group was significantly infrequent compared with VKA group (2.2 vs 8.9 events, p=0.001). In the DOAC group, 90% (n=20/22) of the major bleedings were gastrointestinal [16 rivaroxaban and 4 edoxaban]. However, in the VKA group 64% (n = 20/31) were gastrointestinal, 25.8% (n= 8/31) intracranial and 9.7% (n = 3/31) urogenital bleedings. We identified 365 very elderly patients (aged ≥ 90 years) of which 270 (39.1%) were DOAC patients and 95 (27.1%) VKA patients. In this subgroup of patients, after a multivariate regression analysis, the stroke/systemic embolism incidence was similar in both treatment groups regardless of the age, but major bleeding decreased significantly in DOAC group (adjusted HR 0.247, 95% CI 0.091-0.664). CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that DOACs can be a good therapeutic option for stroke/systemic embolism prevention in frail elderly patients, showing low rates of stroke as well as bleeding events when a structured and integral FU is applied to anticoagulated patients. Further investigations are necessary to analyze the impact in the quality of life and net clinical benefit of anticoagulant therapy when a FU program is applied in elderly patients. Disclosures Sierra: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astellas: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Daiichi-Sankyo: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria.

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Safety and timing of resuming dabigatran after major gastrointestinal bleeding reversed by idarucizumab

SAGE Open Medical Case Reports ◽

10.1177/2050313x17753336 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 2050313X1775333 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gian Galeazzo Riario Sforza ◽

Francesco Gentile ◽

Fabio Stock ◽

Francesco Caggiano ◽

Enrica Chiocca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Case Report ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Acute Treatment ◽

Vitamin K Antagonists ◽

Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽

Oral Vitamin ◽

Bleeding Events ◽

Massive Rectal Bleeding

The recent introduction of direct oral anticoagulants, including rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban, for the acute treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism and in atrial fibrillation has been shown to provide greater clinical benefit than oral vitamin K antagonists. However, direct oral anticoagulants are associated with adverse events, the most common being major bleeding; such events require the reversal of the anticoagulant effects by specific agents. In this case report, we describe an 87-year-old female with atrial fibrillation treated with dabigatran who had massive rectal bleeding. Idarucizumab 5 g (2 × 2.5 g/50 mL) was successfully used to reverse dabigatran effect; subsequent to this, treatment with dabigatran was resumed, and there were no further bleeding events. This suggests that dabigatran can be safely restarted after major bleeding, but this outcome needs to be confirmed in studies involving larger groups of patients.

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