Risk factors for tigecycline-induced hypofibrinogenaemia

Hypofibrinogenaemia is major treatment-related adverse event associated with tigecycline therapy, which in some cases can result in treatment termination. We aimed to identify the risk factors for tigecycline-induced hypofibrinogenaemia.

We retrospectively retrieved 426 Chinese patients who were undergoing tigecycline therapy ≥ 3 days.

There were 426 patients treated with tigecycline. The mean age was 60.31 ± 19.23 years, and 299 (70.19%) patients were male. Of the patients, 50.5% developed hypofibrinogenaemia and 10.1% of patients developed bleeding. Compared with before treatment, fibrinogen (FIB) significantly decreased after tigecycline was used while prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) significantly increased (all P < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in platelet count, hepatic function, and renal function before and after tigecycline treatment (all P > .05). In analysing relevant risk factors, extension of the tigecycline treatment course was found to be the main risk factor for tigecycline-induced hypofibrinogenaemia. Regardless of whether patients received the standard dose or high dose of tigecycline, the long treatment course group (>14 days) had more patients with hypofibrinogenaemia than the routine treatment course group (52.21% vs 40.74%, 48.81% vs 19.44%, all P < .05). Renal failure (whether requiring or not requiring dialysis) is also a risk factor for tigecycline-induced hypofibrinogenaemia (OR [95% CI]: 2.450 [1.335-4.496]).

Tigecycline administration has been related to hypofibrinogenaemia, especially patients with renal failure and when long treatment course of tigecycline are used. We recommend that coagulation function be closely monitored in patients with the aforementioned risk factors for tigecycline-induced hypofibrinogenaemia to ensure patient safety.