Coagulation disorders in the intensive care unit - what is new?

Abstract

The phase III non-vitamin K dependent oral anticoagulants (NOAC) studies and recently published real world data on the use of dabigatran and rivaroxaban have shown that the bleeding profile in particular of intracranial and other life-threatening bleeding of NOAC is more favourable than that of warfarin. In case of a bleeding complication in a patient treated with a NOAC the recently updated EHRA practical guide offers management strategies. Idarucizumab, the specific antidot for dabigatran is approved to reverse the anticoagulant effect of dabigatran-treated patients who have serious bleeding and require an urgent procedure. Andexanet alfa, a specific antidot for direct and indirect factor Xa-inhibitors will be available in the future. The frequency of thrombocytopenia in ICU patients is high whereas the heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) only counts for a small minority of patients with thrombocytopenia. To avoid an overdiagnosis of HIT a reliable and complete clinical and laboratory workup has to be performed. New immunoassays have been developed to provide results within a short period of time. These tests appear to have improved diagnostic accuracy compared with ELISAs in patients with suspected HIT and may reduce misdiagnosis and overtreatment. Acquired haemophilia (AH) is a rare and often life threatening bleeding disorder caused by autoantibodies against factor VIII. Susoctocog alfa is a B-domain deleted recombinant factor VIII porcine sequence that has recently been approved to treat severe bleeding in patients with AH. Susoctocog alfa offers the ability to effectively titrate and monitor dosing based on factor VIII activity levels.