Gerotziafas Grigoris T, Zervas Kostas, Arzoglou Pantelis, Karavaggeli Eli, Parashou Stella, Van Dreden Patrick, Christakis John, Samama Meyer Michel
Department of Haematology, Theagenion Cancer Hospital, 2.A. Simeonidi Street, 54161 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Br J Haematol. 2002 Jun;117(3):705-8. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2002.03437.x.
We report the ex vivo effect of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) on prothrombin activation after whole blood clotting. Two patients with severe thrombocytopenia and life-threatening haemorrhage were successfully managed using a single dose of rFVIIa (90 microg/kg). Western blotting using antiprothrombin antibody showed that rFVIIa did not induce thrombin generation in citrated platelet-poor plasma. Patient sera showed significantly impaired prothrombin activation before and after rFVIIa administration. rFVIIa administration shortened the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and Ivy bleeding time, and normalized the clot retraction. These data indicate that rFVIIa accelerated thrombin generation without significant increase of generated thrombin.
