title: Aprotinin and hemostasis monitoring concerns during cardiac surgery.
abstract: Aprotinin (Trasylol) is a serine protease inhibitor, isolated from bovine lung that initially was marketed for the treatment of pancreatitis. In the mid 1980s, reports of its ability to decrease hemorrhaging after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery introduced the drug to the realm of cardiac surgery. Unfortunately, its introduction into this arena was followed by the publication of multiple studies and case reports that blamed aprotinin for poor outcomes in the form of early graft closure. More than 17 years have passed since the initial article describing the use of aprotinin during cardiopulmonary bypass, and with time there has been a significant increase in scientific knowledge and clinical experience. Interestingly, modern literature does not support the dogma that aprotinin is a procoagulant. Aprotinin increases the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), as well as the kaolin- and celite-activated clotting time (ACT), regardless of heparin. Aprotinin, because of its ability to inhibit kallikrein, has been found to decrease thrombin antithrombin III complexes, fibrin-split products, fibrinopeptide 1+2, prothrombin fragments, and all markers of thrombin formation. Some authors have suggested that it may have a synergistic effect with heparin to ensure graft patency. Anticoagulation monitoring during the use of aprotinin also has been developed based on early studies. Aprotinin administration does influence the results of various ACT tests, and consequently different methods of testing anticoagulation have been developed. Researchers have demonstrated that the celite ACT is not "artificially" prolonged in the presence of heparin and aprotinin, rather the kaolin ACT is "artificially" shortened. This article will review the scientific literature with regard to aprotinin's anticoagulatory effects and review the current recommendations for hemostasis monitoring during the use of aprotinin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA.
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Swartz
authors.forename: Gregory W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Searles
mesh_terms: D007611:Aprotinin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000517:prevention & control; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013918:Thrombin Time
chemical_list: D006490:Hemostatics; D015842:Serine Proteinase Inhibitors; D007611:Aprotinin; D007610:Kallikreins