Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Anti-Xa Guided Reversal of Apixaban With Prothrombin Complex Concentrate in a Patient on

Christina M Brummett1, James S Dingman1, George J Philip2

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, 8585Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, KS, USA.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice
|September 27, 2021
PubMed

The growing use of oral factor Xa (FXa) inhibitors in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly the recent increased use of apixaban in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), has created a new dilemma in the already controversial topic of oral FXa inhibitor reversal. With the limited availability of anti-Xa levels specific to oral FXa inhibitors and even scarcer availability of reversal data for patients on these agents with ESRD, ensuring adequate reversal is currently often solely guided by repeat imaging and changes in clinical status. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anti-Xa levels have been used as a more commonly accessible test to guide the need for and efficacy of reversal of oral FXa inhibitors in patients with normal renal function. However, evidence supporting this technique is again lacking in patients with renal dysfunction. This case report focuses on the use of LMWH anti-Xa levels to guide reversal of apixaban in a patient with ESRD on hemodialysis and correlation of those levels to the patient's clinical status.

Related Concept Videos

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
1.1K
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
60
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
1.5K
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications01:24

Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications

DialyzersA hemodialysis (HD) dialyzer is a plastic cartridge containing thousands of parallel hollow fibers, which serve as semipermeable membranes. These fibers are typically made from cellulose-based or other synthetic materials. During HD, blood is pumped into the top of the cartridge and distributed among these fibers. Simultaneously, dialysis fluid, known as dialysate, is introduced into the bottom of the cartridge, bathing the outside of the fibers. Across the semipermeable membrane,...
193
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis01:30

Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or those experiencing drug overdose often require extracorporeal methods to eliminate accumulated drugs and metabolites. Hemoperfusion, hemofiltration, and dialysis are the primary techniques to rapidly remove harmful substances without disrupting the patient's fluid and electrolyte balance. For those with compromised renal function, dosage adjustments of concurrent medications may be necessary during extracorporeal drug removal.Dialysis is a process...
38
Hemodialysis I: Introduction01:25

Hemodialysis I: Introduction

Hemodialysis (HD) is a medical treatment that artificially removes waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to perform these functions effectively. In this process, blood is filtered through a semipermeable membrane, allowing for the selective removal of waste while preserving necessary components like blood cells and proteins. Hemodialysis is typically performed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or severe kidney...
449