Matthias Klingele1, Hagen Bomberg2, Anne Lerner-Gräber3, Danilo Fliser3, Aaron Poppleton3, Hans J Schäfers4, Heinrich V Groesdonk2. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Hypertension, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany. Electronic address: Matthias.Klingele@uks.eu. 2. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany; Department of Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care, and Pain Therapy, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany. 3. Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Hypertension, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany. 4. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, complicated by suspected or proven heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (type II). The present study evaluated the use of argatroban as an anticoagulant during continuous RRT in the early period after cardiac surgery. Argatroban was compared with unfractionated heparin (UH) with respect to bleeding complications and the effectiveness of anticoagulation. METHODS: Patients requiring RRT after cardiac surgery from March 2007 to June 2009 were identified. The effectiveness of anticoagulation was measured indirectly by the duration of dialysis filter use. Bleeding was defined as clinical signs of blood loss or the need for transfusion. RESULTS: Of 94 patients, 41 received argatroban, 27 UH, and 26 required conversion from UH to argatroban. In all 3 subgroups, RRT was begun within a median postoperative period of 2.0 days. Similar levels of anticoagulation were achieved with the duration of the circuit and filter changed an average of 1.1 times daily during RRT. Liver function was comparable in all patients. Neither clinically relevant signs of bleeding nor significant differences in the hemoglobin levels or a requirement for transfusion were noted. However, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II values during dialysis and mortality were significantly greater in the patients initially receiving argatroban compared with those who received UH alone (54 ± 2 vs 43 ± 3, P < .001; 71% vs 44%, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Argatroban can provide effective anticoagulation in postoperative cardiac patients receiving continuous RRT. Close monitoring and dose titration resulted in a comparable risk of bleeding for anticoagulation with both argatroban and heparin, regardless of the disease severity or impaired hepatic function.
OBJECTIVES: Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a common complication after cardiac surgery, complicated by suspected or proven heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (type II). The present study evaluated the use of argatroban as an anticoagulant during continuous RRT in the early period after cardiac surgery. Argatroban was compared with unfractionated heparin (UH) with respect to bleeding complications and the effectiveness of anticoagulation. METHODS:Patients requiring RRT after cardiac surgery from March 2007 to June 2009 were identified. The effectiveness of anticoagulation was measured indirectly by the duration of dialysis filter use. Bleeding was defined as clinical signs of blood loss or the need for transfusion. RESULTS: Of 94 patients, 41 received argatroban, 27 UH, and 26 required conversion from UH to argatroban. In all 3 subgroups, RRT was begun within a median postoperative period of 2.0 days. Similar levels of anticoagulation were achieved with the duration of the circuit and filter changed an average of 1.1 times daily during RRT. Liver function was comparable in all patients. Neither clinically relevant signs of bleeding nor significant differences in the hemoglobin levels or a requirement for transfusion were noted. However, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II values during dialysis and mortality were significantly greater in the patients initially receiving argatroban compared with those who received UH alone (54 ± 2 vs 43 ± 3, P < .001; 71% vs 44%, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS:Argatroban can provide effective anticoagulation in postoperative cardiac patients receiving continuous RRT. Close monitoring and dose titration resulted in a comparable risk of bleeding for anticoagulation with both argatroban and heparin, regardless of the disease severity or impaired hepatic function.
Authors: Mirjam Bachler; Lars M Asmis; Jürgen Koscielny; Thomas Lang; Hartmuth Nowak; Patrick Paulus; Jens-Christian Schewe; Christian von Heymann; Dietmar Fries Journal: Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis Date: 2022-06-08 Impact factor: 1.061