Fibrinogen concentrate and maternal outcomes in severe postpartum hemorrhage: A population-based cohort study with a propensity score-matched analysis

Study objective: Fibrinogen concentrate is used to treat severe postpartum hemorrhage despite limited evidence of its effectiveness in obstetric settings. We aimed to explore the association between its administration and maternal outcomes in women with severe postpartum hemorrhage.

Design, setting and patients: This secondary analysis of the EPIMOMS prospective population-based study, exploring severe maternal morbidity, as defined by national expert consensus (2012-2013, 182,309 deliveries, France), included all women with severe postpartum hemorrhage and transfused with red blood cells during active bleeding.

Measurements: The primary endpoint was maternal near-miss or death, and the secondary endpoint the total number of red blood cells units transfused.

Interventions: We studied fibrinogen concentrate administration as a binary variable and then by the timing of its administration. We used multivariable analysis and propensity score matching to account for potential indication bias.

Main results: Among the 730 women with severe postpartum hemorrhage and transfused, 313 (42.9%) received fibrinogen concentrate, and 142 (19.5%) met near-miss criteria or died. The risk of near-miss or death was not significantly lower among the women treated with fibrinogen concentrate than among those not treated, in either the multivariable analysis (adjusted RR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.72-1.49; P = 0.855) or the propensity score analysis (RR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.55-1.32; P = 0.477). Among women treated with fibrinogen concentrate, administration more than three hours after red blood cell transfusion started was associated with a higher risk of near-miss or death than administration before or within 30 min after the transfusion began (adjusted RR = 2.07; 95% CI, 1.10-3.89; P = 0.024). Results were similar for the secondary endpoint.

Conclusions: The use of fibrinogen concentrate in severe postpartum hemorrhage needing red blood cell transfusion during active bleeding is not associated with improved maternal outcomes.