Global Advanced Research Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences (GARJMMS) ISSN: 2315-5159
March 2016 Issue Vol. 5(3), pp. 082-087
Copyright © 2016 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The Impact of Recombinant FVIIa Infusion  on Transfusion Requirements in Bleeding Patients 

Soheir Adam and Galila Zaher

King Abdulaziz University, P. O. Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding Author E-mail: zgalila@yahoo.com

Accepted 11 March, 2016

Abstract

Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) is approved for treatment of bleeding in congenital hemophilia patients with inhibitors, but is also used for myriad off-label indications. Currently, rFVIIa is frequently used to control bleeding in critically ill and surgical patients despite the paucity of evidence. We report here on transfusion requirements before and after rVIIa infusion in patients treated for off label indications. All off-label episodes of treatment with rFVIIa at King Abdulaziz University Hospital over 12 months were included. Data were extracted using a standardized case report form. Relevant laboratory and clinical variables were collected. Transfusion requirements pre and post treatment with rFVIIa , were compared for various clinical indications. Seventy patients were included with a mean age of 46.1 (± 18.6) years. The four most common off-label indications for rFVIIa treatment were for bleeding associated with cardiac surgery (33.3%), management of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (18.8%), post partum hemorrhage (PPH) (11.6%) and bleeding varesis (13%). Comparison of the median number of blood product units required pre- and post- rFVIIa treatment revealed a significant reduction in transfusion requirements following rFVIIa treatment. Our results indicate that off-label use of rFVIIa treatment is associated with a significant reduction in transfusion requirements in patients with surgical and obstetric hemorrhage.

Keywords: Bleeding, Recombinant factor VIIa, transfusion requirements