Warfarin therapy in children who require long-term total parenteral nutrition.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether warfarin can be safely administered to children who require long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN), for the purpose of preventing central venous access device (CVAD)-related thrombosis.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study was conducted of 8 children with short-gut syndrome or small intestinal anomalies. All patients received oral anticoagulant therapy (warfarin) managed by the hematology department at a tertiary pediatric center. Data collected included demographic details, nutritional intake, age, weight, history of deep vein thrombosis, number and functional duration of CVADs, warfarin requirements, and adverse event rates.


RESULTS
A total of 15.2 warfarin years were studied prospectively. The target therapeutic range was achieved 51.1% of time. The mean dose of warfarin required to achieve the target therapeutic range (international normalized ratio) of 2.0 to 3.0 was 0.33 mg/kg/d. The mean duration between warfarin monitoring tests was 6.6 days. The median vitamin K intake per patient was 0.367 mg/kg/d (range: 0.018-2.85 mg/kg/d). Before commencing anticoagulant therapy, the mean CVAD duration was 160.9 days. Concomitant warfarin therapy was associated with a mean CVAD duration of 351.7 days. There were no major bleeding events, and no clinical extension of thrombosis was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first published study to report uniform warfarin prophylaxis for CVADs in children. Warfarin therapy can be administered safely in children who require long-term TPN. Warfarin prophylaxis seems to prolong CVAD survival.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Women's and Children's Health, Parkville, Australia.
Fiona
F
Newall
Chris
C
Barnes
Helen
H
Savoia
Janine
J
Campbell
Paul
P
Monagle
D000293:Adolescent; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000628:therapy; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000002:abnormalities; D008297:Male; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin