Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is increasingly being used in off-label settings. To understand patient characteristics that may affect outcomes in patients who receive off-label rFVIIa, a retrospective review of off-label rFVIIa use from 1/1999 through 3/2005 was conducted at two tertiary-care academic hospitals. Through a hospital IRB-approved protocol, patient charts were examined for all 117 consecutive patients who received off-label rFVIIa. Overall 30-day mortality was 75/117 (64%; 95% CI [0.55 - 0.72]). Overall incidence of new renal dysfunction (serum creatinine>1.3mg/dL for females, >1.5mg/dL for males) or worsening renal dysfunction (>50% increase in creatinine in patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction) was 31/108 (28.7%; 95% CI [0.21 - 0.38]). Thromboembolic complications were documented in 9/117 (7.6%; 95%CI [0.04 - 0.14]). Multiple clinical characteristics were recorded and the Fisher’s exact test was used to determine which characteristics were associated with either an increased (or decreased) frequency of renal dysfunction within 72 hours of rFVIIa administration; or with an increased (or decreased) frequency of 30-day mortality. The characteristics that showed statistically significant association in univariate analysis are listed in the table. The incidence of renal failure was significantly increased over baseline (29%) for patients with either one of 2 characteristics (rows g,h). The incidence of death was significantly increased over baseline (64%) for patients with any of 6 clinical characteristics (a – f) and decreased compared to baseline patients with 3 characteristics (i–k). Characteristics which showed no statistically significant association for either outcomes were: intracranial hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, gastrointestinal bleeding, post-procedural bleeding, trauma, surgical intensive unit, hx of solid tumor, hx of coronary artery disease, hx of atrial fibrillation, hx of diabetes mellitus, gender and age. This analysis helps identify covariant clinical features to be considered when selecting a matched control group to examine patient outcomes resulting from off-label rFVIIa use.

Patient Clinical CharacteristicsnRenal Dysfunction; Odds Ratio [95% CI]Death; Odds Ratio [95 % CI]
*p<0.005; **p<0.05; †p>0.05; ¶One-sided Odds Ratio is reported because no patient survived. 
a Sepsis 23 0.49 [0.11–1.68]† >4.73 *,¶ 
b DIC 15 0.16 [0.004–1.2]† >2.67 *,¶ 
c BMT/Stem Cell Transplant 15 0.64 [0.11–2.7]† >2.67 *,¶ 
d Heme malignancy 21 0.41 [0.07–1.6]† 14.9 [2.2–632.6]* 
e Medical ICU 36 1.2 [0.45–3.2]† 10.2 [2.8–55.2]* 
f Pre-existing renal dysfunction 53 0.42 [0.16–1.1]† 4.7 [1.8–12.7]* 
g Liver disease/Ped liver transplant 23 3.19 [1.02–9.78]** 0.54 [0.19–1.5]† 
h Cardiac/thoracic surgery 18 3.1 [0.95–9.9]** 0.86 [0.28–2.9]† 
i Anticoagulant-related bleeding 19 0.64 [0.11–2.7]† 0.19 [0.06–0.62]* 
j Surgical prophylaxis 6 0.48 [0.01–4.6]† 0 [0–0.32]* 
Patient Clinical CharacteristicsnRenal Dysfunction; Odds Ratio [95% CI]Death; Odds Ratio [95 % CI]
*p<0.005; **p<0.05; †p>0.05; ¶One-sided Odds Ratio is reported because no patient survived. 
a Sepsis 23 0.49 [0.11–1.68]† >4.73 *,¶ 
b DIC 15 0.16 [0.004–1.2]† >2.67 *,¶ 
c BMT/Stem Cell Transplant 15 0.64 [0.11–2.7]† >2.67 *,¶ 
d Heme malignancy 21 0.41 [0.07–1.6]† 14.9 [2.2–632.6]* 
e Medical ICU 36 1.2 [0.45–3.2]† 10.2 [2.8–55.2]* 
f Pre-existing renal dysfunction 53 0.42 [0.16–1.1]† 4.7 [1.8–12.7]* 
g Liver disease/Ped liver transplant 23 3.19 [1.02–9.78]** 0.54 [0.19–1.5]† 
h Cardiac/thoracic surgery 18 3.1 [0.95–9.9]** 0.86 [0.28–2.9]† 
i Anticoagulant-related bleeding 19 0.64 [0.11–2.7]† 0.19 [0.06–0.62]* 
j Surgical prophylaxis 6 0.48 [0.01–4.6]† 0 [0–0.32]* 
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Topics:
off-label use, recombinant coagulation factor viia, kidney failure, anticoagulants, atrial fibrillation, cancer, coronary arteriosclerosis, creatinine, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal bleeding

Author notes

Corresponding author

2005, The American Society of Hematology
2005
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