title: Filter survival time and requirement of blood products in patients with severe sepsis receiving drotrecogin alfa (activated) and requiring renal replacement therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA) is licensed in the United States and the European Union for the treatment of severe sepsis with multiple organ failure. Patients with severe sepsis on renal replacement therapy (RRT), who typically receive additional anticoagulation to prevent circuit clotting, may be at higher risk of bleeding when DrotAA is administered in addition to standard anticoagulation. However, the effects of DrotAA on filter duration in the absence of additional anticoagulation have not been established. The aim of this study was to analyse the filter survival time (FST), and to quantify the requirement of packed red cells (PRC) and blood products during DrotAA infusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a single-centre, retrospective observational study conducted in an adult intensive care unit (ICU). Thirty-five patients with severe sepsis who had received both RRT and DrotAA were identified, and all relevant clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from the departmental electronic patient record. We compared haemofilter parameters, requirement of blood products and haemodynamic data recorded during RRT and the infusion of DrotAA with those recorded on RRT with standard anticoagulation after the DrotAA infusion had been completed (post-DrotAA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of filter changes due to filter clotting was similar during DrotAA infusion and with conventional anticoagulation post-DrotAA infusion. There was no difference in the FST and filter parameters during DrotAA in the presence or absence of additional anticoagulation with heparin or epoprostenol. A similar proportion of patients required red cell transfusion, although a greater proportion of patients received platelet and fresh frozen plasma during DrotAA infusion compared with the post-DrotAA period with no difference between medical and surgical patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional anticoagulation during DrotAA infusion does not appear to improve FST. The use of DrotAA in patients with severe sepsis requiring RRT is safe and is not associated with an increased need for PRC transfusion or major bleeding events.
authors.affiliation: Adult Intensive Care Unit, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, 1st Floor East Wing, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7EH, UK. luigicamporota@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camporota
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corno
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menaldo
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beale
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wyncoll
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006440:Hemofiltration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011486:Protein C / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017582:Renal Replacement Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011486:Protein C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C421124:drotrecogin alfa activated