WEDNESDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) — Newer blood-thinning drugs
sometimes have one drawback: In cases where they trigger bleeding, their
effects can be tough to reverse compared to the standard anticoagulant,
warfarin.
Now, a new study finds there are three different approaches to reverse
the action of one new blood thinner, apixaban (Eliquis) — a drug that’s
currently under review by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration.
Researchers in Spain noted that it remains unclear which method for
reversing this new drug might be best.
“If you have an accident or need emergency surgery, doctors have three
ways to reverse [the older, standby blood-thinner] warfarin that work in a
matter of minutes to hours. In contrast, there is little information on
how best to reverse the effects of newer anticoagulants, which can take 10
to 18 hours,” study author Dr. Gines Escolar, an associate professor of
hematology at the University of Barcelona, explained in an American Heart
Association news release.
Newer blood thinners, such as apixaban and rivaroxaban [Xarelto,
already FDA-approved], typically require less frequent blood tests
compared to warfarin, have fewer interactions with foods or other
medications and have less variation in dosages.
Nevertheless, “despite these advantages, there is one common side
effect of all blood thinners that can be severe — excess bleeding,”
Escolar explained.
In conducting the study, the researchers added a high dose of apixaban
to blood from healthy donors to test the effects of various methods of
reversing blood thinners on the new drug. They found that two
blood-clotting agents — prothrombin complex concentrates and activated
prothrombin complex concentrates — were more efficient than recombinant
factor VII in reversing apixaban. Recombinant factor VII, however, was the
first to produce a blood clot and was also most effective in studies with
blood circulating through a damaged blood vessel.
“The good news is that the various lab tests applied indicate that
these approaches may reverse the effects of apixaban,” Escolar concluded.
“But, even with the favorable results in perfusion [restoration of blood
flow] studies using a damaged vessel, we’re far from knowing what will
work best in a bleeding patient. Resolving efficacy and safety issues will
require a clinical trial.”
One expert in the United States said that determining a quick, safe way
of reversing apixaban would be key to its use.
“Apixaban, which is being considered for use in the prevention of
stroke and systemic embolism in patients with [the irregular heartbeat]
atrial fibrillation, can be an attractive alternative to warfarin and
heparin also used in similar patients,” said Dr. David Friedman, a
cardiologist at North Shore-LIJ’s Plainview Hospital in Plainview,
N.Y.
“The hope would be for these researchers to next show a safe, effective
and quick way to clinically reverse the anticoagulant effects of apixaban
on patients with atrial fibrillation who come to the ER with a new
bleeding event,” he said. If such a method of reversal is confirmed,
“clinicians may start to feel more comfortable with the advantages of
these newer medicines,” he said.
Apixaban has already been approved in Europe for preventing blood clots
in adults after knee or hip replacement surgery. The drug is currently
under review by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration to prevent stroke in
people with atrial fibrillation.
The study, presented in the American Heart Association‘s Emerging
Science Series, was partially funded by Bristol-Myers Squibb, which is
developing apixaban.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more about blood thinners.
Related posts:
Views: 0