Prothrombin Complex Concentrate before Urgent Surgery in Patients Treated with Rivaroxaban and Apixaban.

INTRODUCTION: Patients treated with direct Xa inhibitors may require urgent surgery. Administration of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) in this setting is common; however, it is based on limited experience in healthy volunteers. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the population receiving PCC for apixaban/rivaroxaban reversal prior to an urgent surgery and evaluate its efficacy and safety. METHODS: This was a retrospective study in 2 tertiary hospitals. Bleeding was evaluated based on surgical reports, hemoglobin drop, and the use of blood products or additional PCC during 48 h. Safety measures were thrombotic complications and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients aged 80.7 ± 9 years, treated with apixaban (39.63%) or rivaroxaban (23.37%), received PCC before an urgent surgery/procedure. Most underwent abdominal operation (61%), orthopedic surgery (13%), or transhepatic cholecystostomy insertion (10%). Bleeding during surgery was reported in 3 patients (5%), no patient required additional PCC, and 16 patients (26%) received packed cells (median: 1 unit, range: 1-5). The 30-day mortality and thrombosis rates were 21% (n = 13) and 3% (n = 2), respectively. The cause of death was related to the primary disease, most commonly sepsis. No patient died due to bleeding/thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of PCC to achieve hemostasis in patients treated with Xa inhibitors prior to an urgent surgery.

Reversal of cystoid macular edema in gyrate atrophy patients.

PURPOSE: This study reports the presentation of two families with gyrate atrophy (GA). The aim of this study was to characterize the potential effect of therapeutic regimens on macular edema. METHODS: Two unrelated patients with GA were studied for the potential effect of low protein diet (≤ 0.8 g/kg/d), and oral administration of pyridoxine (500 mg/day), on serum ornithine levels, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit-lamp, OCT, and auto-fluorescence findings. Blood samples for DNA, mRNA, and exons of the OAT gene were screened for mutations and splicing effect when relevant. RESULTS: At presentation, both patients manifested typical ophthalmic features of GA including cystoid macular edema (CME). One patient also exhibited optic nerve head hamartoma. Following treatment ornithine levels have lessened, BCVA improved, and central macular thickness (CMT) markedly decreased in all four studied eyes. The molecular pathologic features included a novel splice site mutation (c.900+1G>A). CONCLUSIONS: We have identified a novel mutation and two formerly described mutations in patients with GA. Of them, one patient comprised an unusual phenotype including bilateral astrocytic hamartomas. We have recognized for the first time improvement in CME following treatment with low protein intake and pyridoxine supplement. This finding may have significance in the understanding of treatment options for macular edema regardless of underlying etiology.

[Oral antibiotics for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with low risk neutropenic fever--a comparative controlled study].

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy induced neutropenic fever can be safely treated with oral antibiotics. However, guidelines are based on studies that focused on patients with solid tumors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral antibiotics in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) patients with low risk neutropenic fever. METHODS: The files of all NHL patients who were hospitalized due to low risk neutropenic fever were reviewed. All patients who were hospitalized in our department were treated with oral amoxicillin - clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin. Patients who were hospitalized in the other departments received parenteral antibiotics. The two modalities were compared for the course and outcome of the febrile disease. RESULTS: The files of 48 patients were reviewed. Most patients had intermediate grade NHL, stages III-IV. Thirty-three patients with 44 episodes of neutropenic fever were treated parenterally, while 15 patients with 19 episodes received oral antibiotics. The two policies had equally successful outcomes (59% in the parenteral group and 74% in the oral group, p=0.270). There was no difference in the rate of mortality, serious complications, secondary infections, no response to initial antibiotic regimen, and antibiotic regimen intolerance. CONCLUSION: The study confirms that oral ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin - clavulanate is a valuable alternative to the parenteral treatment combination in the management of NHL patients with chemotherapy-induced low risk febrile neutropenia.