Response to treatment and adverse events associated with use of recombinant activated factor VII in children: a retrospective cohort study

Novel IVS7+1G>T mutation of life-threatening congenital factor VII deficiency in neonates: A retrospective study in China

In neonates, congenital factor VII deficiency (FVIID) is characterized by central nervous system bleeding and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, often resulting in poor prognosis and high mortality.To improve understanding of FVIID in neonates in Asia, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, clinical course, and genetic diagnosis of 2 cases of neonatal FVIID in the Department of Neonatology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou, China, from January 2007 to December 2017 and performed a review of the relevant literature.Both neonates were female and presented with severe gastrointestinal tract and intracranial hemorrhage. The laboratory findings were characterized by repeated and non-vitamin K1-dependent prolonged of the prothrombin time (PT), Factor VII (FVII) activity was 1.5% and 3%, respectively. Both neonates died of severe intracranial hemorrhage, at 31 days and 6 months after birth, respectively. Gene sequencing results revealed a homozygous mutation in the FVII gene splice site (IVS7+1G>T) in both cases. Upon review of relevant literature published since 1996, we identified 19 cases of neonatal FVIID. The patients were full-term neonates with onset of symptoms mostly within 7 days after birth (73.7%), which included gastrointestinal bleeding (blood stool, vomiting blood; 31.6%), nervous system signs (drowsiness, convulsions, poor response; 26.3%), severe intracranial hemorrhage (84.2%), significantly prolonged PT with significantly decreased FVII activity (89.5%), high mortality, and disability (68.4%). Gene sequencing was performed in 9 of the 19 children evaluated and revealed a mutation in the FVII gene in all cases.FVIID can be clinically diagnosed based on the presence of prolonged PT that is difficult to correct and significantly decreased FVII activity (≤5%). As mutations in some sites are associated with severe bleeding, genetic diagnosis represents a useful tool for prenatal diagnosis of FVIID. In brief, we should pay great attention to the FVIID onset of the neonatal period, although it is rare but result in life-threatening bleeding with poor prognosis.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in refractory haemorrhage for non-haemophiliacs: an eleven-year single-centre experience

Background

Massive bleeding is one of the commonest salvageable causes of death. The search for an ideal haemostatic agent during massive bleeding is still ongoing. One of the novel haemostatic medications is recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa). To date, the usage of rFVIIa during massive haemorrhage among non-haemophiliac patients remains off-label. The aim of this study is to report our experience in using rFVIIa to treat refractory bleeding.

Methods

Medical records of all patients treated with rFVIIa for massive bleeding over an eleven-year period in a single institution were recorded. Treatment indications, 24-h and 30-day mortality, changes in transfusion needs and coagulation profiles after rFVIIa administration were analysed.

Results

rFVIIa were administered in 76 patients. Of these, 41 (53.9%) were non-surgical bleeding, followed by 22 patients (28.9%) with trauma, other surgery bleedings in 9 patients (11.8%) and 4 patients (5.4%) with peripartum haemorrhage. Total survival rate was 78.9% within 24 h and 44.7% over 30 days. Among all these patients who had received rFVIIa due to life-threatening haemorrhage, blood and blood product requirements were significantly reduced (P < 0.001), and the coagulation profiles improved significantly (P < 0.05). Two patients with preexisting thromboembolism were given rFVIIa due to intractable bleeding, both survived. No thromboembolic events were reported after the administration of rFVIIa.

Conclusions

rFVIIa significantly improved coagulation parameters and reduced blood product requirements during refractory haemorrhage. Additionally, usage of rFVIIa in trauma and peripartum haemorrhage patients yield better outcomes than other groups of patients. However, the overall mortality rate remained high.