Recombinant activated factor VII in an unselected series of cases with upper gastrointestinal bleeding

The mortality rate associated with UGI bleeding remains high at 7-14%. Pharmacologic and endoscopic interventions are the current standard treatment, but there are few alternative options should these fail. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in the rescue treatment of severe upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding.

Eleven patients (age: 8-64 years) were treated with rFVIIa at 15.0-90 microg/kg to control UGI bleeds. All three pediatric/adolescent cases and four of the eight adults had UGI hemorrhage associated with liver disease; the origins of the bleeds for remaining adults were trauma (n=1), peptic duodenal ulcer (n=1), hemorrhagic gastritis with sepsis (n=1) and pancreatitis (n=1).

Bleeding stopped in seven patients and was markedly reduced in two patients, while there was no change in two patients. Coagulation parameters displayed a tendency to improve, and transfusion requirements were reduced in most patients. In total, five patients died within 2 weeks of rFVIIa treatment. In each case, fatality was judged unrelated to rFVIIa treatment. No thromboembolic events occurred.

These results suggest that, even if our data are optimistic, the use of rFVIIa in the treatment of severe UGI bleeding warrants further investigation in prospective, randomized trials.