title: Comparison of activated clotting times obtained using Hemochron and Medtronic analysers in patients receiving anti-thrombin therapy during cardiac catheterisation.
abstract: Accurate monitoring of anti-thrombin therapy with activated clotting time (ACT) is important to prevent thrombotic and haemorrhagic complications during cardiac catheterisation. Significant variability in ACT tests exists when different analysers are used. Our objective was to compare ACT results obtained using Hemochron and Medtronic ACT PLUS devices and antiXa activity in patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation. Thirty-two patients who received unfractionated heparin or argatroban therapy during cardiac catheterisation were enrolled. Blood sampling was performed to determine ACT values using Hemochron and Medtronic (with high-range cartridges) devices in all patients (n = 130 pairs), and anti-Xa activity following heparin administration. In the heparin group, ACT tests (n = 95 pairs) showed very good correlation (r = 0.84, y = 1.31x-0.81; p<0.001). However, Hemochron values were consistently higher and the difference more pronounced with increasing ACT (for ACT>150 sec, mean difference 65 +/- 48 sec; p<0.001). Both Hemochron and Medtronic ACT tests correlated well with plasma anti-Xa levels (r = 0.85, r = 0.81, respectively; p<0.001); Hemochron ACT>300 sec corresponded to anti-Xa>1.48 IU/ml. With concomitant eptifibatide therapy, the divergence in ACT was greater compared to heparin alone. In the argatroban group, ACT tests (n = 35 pairs) demonstrated excellent correlation (r = 0.94, y = 0.61x+79.9; p<0.001). In contrast to the heparin group, ACT values were higher with Medtronic compared to Hemochron. Therefore, despite good correlation between Hemochron and Medtronic ACT results, and strong association with anti-Xa activity, Medtronic ACT values were consistently lower compared to Hemochron following heparin anticoagulation. Paradoxically, Medtronic ACT results were higher after argatroban therapy. Understanding this discrepancy is crucial when using ACT to guide invasive cardiac procedures.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street GRB 800, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Van Cott
authors.forename: O Christopher
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Raffel
authors.forename: Ik-Kyung
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000032:analysis*; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013449:Sulfonamides
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D013449:Sulfonamides; D006493:Heparin; D001120:Arginine; D015951:Factor Xa; C031942:argatroban