title: Successful control of postsurgical bleeding by recombinant factor VIIa in a renal failure patient given low molecular weight heparin and aspirin.
abstract: An end-stage renal failure patient with lupus nephritis was treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and aspirin for cardiac ischemia. She was then subjected to surgery to recreate a new arteriovenous fistula for dialysis 1 day after discontinuing LMWH and aspirin. Severe postsurgical bleeding required wound reexploration and multiple transfusions of blood products, which nevertheless, failed to arrest bleeding. Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) as a bolus dose of 120 microg/kg successfully secured hemostasis. Bleeding in this patient was attributed to the accumulation of low molecular weight heparin activity from poor renal clearance as well as the antiplatelet activity of aspirin. The potential of rFVIIa in securing hemostasis for excessive bleeding after use of these agents is promising.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, 169608 Singapore, Republic of Singapore. ghenhj@sgh.com.sg
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015942:Factor VIIa / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015942:Factor VIIa; D001241:Aspirin