title: Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, argatroban and fondaparinux and their effects on coagulation POC and platelet function tests.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, several selectively acting anticoagulants, including the direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI; argatroban, dabigatran) and the factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban, fondaparinux), have been developed. With their clinical application increasing, it is of interest to evaluate their interference with classical haemostaseological point-of-care tests. Additionally, the effect of the investigated anticoagulants on platelet function tests will come increasingly more into focus for monitoring not only hereditary platelet dysfunction, but also antiplatelet therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples from healthy volunteers were spiked with therapeutic and supratherapeutic concentrations of the drugs listed above and investigated with regard to their effects on the following POCTs: activated clotting time (ACT), thromboelastometry with ROTEM, PFA and Multiplate. Light-transmission aggregometry (LTA) was used for a platelet function assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At supratherapeutic concentrations, ACT and ROTEM analysis were always influenced after administration of the drugs listed above (except fondaparinux in EXTEM-CT). Therapeutic concentrations showed differential effects on these assays. LTA measurements revealed a distinct decrease in α-thrombin-induced platelet aggregation for both DTIs (therapeutic and supratherapeutic concentrations), while argatroban reduced platelet function in supratherapeutic concentrations. None of the drugs seemed to have any influence on PFA or Multiplate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selective thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors exhibit distinct effects on POCTs and platelet function tests. This must be considered in assessing assay results when taking medical decisions.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eller
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dittrich
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flieder
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alban
authors.forename: Cornelius
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knabbe
authors.forename: Ingvild
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Birschmann
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016477:Artifacts; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D000069604:Dabigatran; D000077425:Fondaparinux; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010875:Pipecolic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods*; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013916:Thrombelastography; D014914:Whole Blood Coagulation Time; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D009025:Morpholines; D010875:Pipecolic Acids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011728:Pyridones; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; D015091:beta-Alanine; C522181:apixaban; D001120:Arginine; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran; C031942:argatroban; D000077425:Fondaparinux