Background: Fondaparinux is a synthetic pentasaccharide, which selectively inhibits coagulation factor (F) Xa, and is registered for prevention of venous thromboembolism following hip fracture, hip replacement, and knee replacement surgery. Recently, it was shown that recombinant FVIIa (rFVIIa) reverses anticoagulant effects of fondaparinux in healthy volunteers.
Objectives: In this study, we have explored the in vitro and ex vivo effects of rFVIIa on clot formation and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI)-mediated down-regulation of fibrinolysis after fondaparinux administration.
Methods: In vitro clot lysis assays were performed in pooled normal plasma from healthy volunteers to which fondaparinux was added, and in serial samples from healthy volunteers who received a single bolus dose of fondaparinux, a single bolus dose of rFVIIa, or both.
Results and conclusions: Fondaparinux significantly delayed clot formation, and clot lysis was significantly increased due to decreased activation of TAFI. Addition of recombinant FVIIa corrected the inhibited clot formation induced by fondaparinux, and the acceleration of clot lysis was partially reversed. In vivo administration of fondaparinux (10 mg) to healthy volunteers similarly resulted in accelerated plasma clot lysis. Subsequent administration of rFVIIa (90 microg kg(-1)) normalized the clot lysis time up to 6 h postadministration. rFVIIa might be a good therapeutic option in patients treated with fondaparinux who develop bleeding complications, since both clot formation as well as fibrinolytic resistance are improved.