Plasma warfarin concentrations after a massive overdose

Warfarin Overdose in an Adolescent Not Dependent on Anticoagulation: Reversal Strategy and Kinetics

INTRODUCTION

Warfarin induces coagulopathy. Guidelines protocolize reversal of supratherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) in patients dependent on anticoagulation, but practices vary for reversing warfarin-induced coagulopathy after overdose in non-warfarin-dependent patients.

CASE REPORT

This is the report of a 15-year-old female who ingested her father's warfarin (100-200 mg) in a self-harm attempt. At hour 24 post-ingestion, her INR was 2.00 and she was admitted for monitoring. Reversal of coagulopathy was initially deferred pending the INR trend. The INR was 5.10 at hour 60 and 2.5 mg oral vitamin K1 (VK1) was given. At hour 85, the INR peaked at 6.67 and she received a second oral dose of 2.5 mg VK1. On day 8, she was medically cleared with an INR of 1.31. On day 11, she developed lower abdominal pain and diarrhea. Imaging revealed a duodenal hematoma, and symptoms improved spontaneously. She was again medically cleared 13 days post-ingestion. Her serum warfarin concentration peaked at 19 mcg/mL at hour 46. Serial warfarin concentrations were obtained, demonstrating first-order elimination kinetics and a 30-hour half-life.

CONCLUSION

A restrictive approach to coagulopathy reversal in non-warfarin-dependent patients with intentional warfarin overdose may result in worsening coagulopathy, bleeding, and lengthy hospital stay. Given the risk for significant, prolonged coagulopathy, these patients should be treated early with VK1, with subsequent serial INR monitoring and probable additional VK1 dosing. Delayed peak warfarin concentrations support consideration of gastrointestinal decontamination in late presenters.

Time to Peak International Normalized Ratio Rise in Acute and Acute-on-Chronic Warfarin Overdoses

ABSTRACT

Guidelines exist on the management of supratherapeutic/subtherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) values for patients on warfarin. However, there is a paucity of the literature relating to an acute overdose of warfarin. This is a retrospective cohort study for all acute and acute-on-chronic (AOC) warfarin overdoses reported to the Maryland Poison Center in patients ≥12 years between January 1st, 2000, until October 31st, 2019, managed in a health care facility. The primary outcome was to determine the time after presentation to peak INR. Secondary outcomes included risk factors associated with INR >10 and describing patient characteristics. A total of 163 overdoses were included, 68 acute and 95 AOC. In patients who did not receive reversal therapies, INR peaked at a median value of 3.8 (interquartile range 2.6-5.5) between 24 and 36 hours. The median time to phytonadione was 22.0 hours. Most patients received phytonadione (62.0%), with fewer receiving blood products (16.6%). The median warfarin dose ingested was 75 mg. The AOC group had a greater mean age (56 vs. 43 years), median INR value (2.4 vs. 1.4), and men (62.1% vs. 41.2%). Factors associated with an INR > 10 included initial INR and reported quantity ingested. Peak INR was greater in the AOC than the acute overdose group (6.1 vs. 3.4), although the bleeding rate was similar. Peak INR values after warfarin overdose occur between 24 and 36 hours after presentation. Initial INRs and reported quantity ingested may be useful to predict those needing treatment.

MEIC Evaluation of Acute Systemic Toxicity

The Multicenter Evaluation of In Vitro Cytotoxicity (MEIC) programme was set up to evaluate the relevance for acute human systemic toxicity of in vitro cytotoxicity tests. At the end of the programme in the summer of 1996, 29 laboratories had tested all 50 reference chemicals in 61 cytotoxicity assays. As a necessary prerequisite to the forthcoming evaluation papers of this series, this paper presents the animal and human toxicity data of the programme. This database contains tabulated handbook data for the 50 chemicals, on: a) oral rat and mouse LD50 values; b) acute oral lethal doses in humans; c) clinically measured acute lethal serum concentrations in humans; d) acute lethal blood concentrations in humans measured postmortem; e) peaks from curves of an approximate 50% lethal blood/serum concentration over time after ingestion (LC50 curves), derived from a compilation of human acute poisoning case reports; f) human kinetics of single doses, including absorption, peak time, distribution/elimination curve, plasma half-life, distribution volume, distribution to organs (notably brain), and blood protein binding; and g) qualitative human acute toxicity data, including lethal symptoms, main causes of death, average time to death, target organs, presence of histopathological injury in target organs, presence of toxic metabolites, and known or hypothetical mechanisms for the lethal toxicity. The rationales for selection of the human toxicity data are also noted. The methods used to compile the in vivo toxicity data are described, including a presentation of a new method of constructing LC50 curves. Finally, the merits and shortcomings of the various human toxicity data for evaluation purposes are discussed.

Attempted Suicide by Massive Warfarin Ingestion Conservatively Managed Using Phytonadione

Treatment strategies for acute toxicity following massive ingestion of warfarin are not well described in the literature. Warfarin is the primary oral anticoagulation agent used in the treatment of thromboembolic disease, and patients with acute toxicity are at risk for life-threatening hemorrhages. Treatment options include phytonadione (vitamin K₁), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) used alone or in combination. FFP and PCC can be associated with volume complications, undesirable thromboembolic events, and increased costs. We describe the case of a 63-year-old female with acute warfarin toxicity following a massive ingestion of warfarin (420 mg–450 mg) in an attempt to commit suicide. Upon arrival to the emergency department, serial INR checks were initiated to help guide dosing strategy and later adjusted based on INR response to treatment using only phytonadione.

Warfarin overdose: a 25-year experience

Warfarin, a vitamin K antagonist, is widely used for the prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic disease. While guidelines exist for management of a supratherapeutic international normalized ratio following therapeutic warfarin use, these guidelines are not designed for management of the acute warfarin overdose. There is a paucity of literature describing the latter. The primary objective of this manuscript is to characterize the coagulopathy and describe the bleeding events that occur after a warfarin overdose. A secondary goal is to describe the amount of vitamin K administered to patients presenting with warfarin overdoses. A retrospective chart review of patients admitted with an acute warfarin overdose at two tertiary care medical centers in the USA was conducted. Clinical characteristics were abstracted, and bleeding categories (major, minor, trivial) were defined a priori. Twenty-three patients were admitted during the time period; males accounted for 15/23 (62.5 %) subjects. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 43 (32-48.5) years. Seventeen subjects received vitamin K, with a median (IQR) dose of 15 (10-50) mg. The maximal total amount of vitamin K administered to a single patient during the index hospitalization was 110 mg. Three bleeding events occurred; one classified as major, and two as minor. All patients made a full recovery. In this case series of acute warfarin overdose, nearly all patients developed a coagulopathy, and nearly three-quarters of patients received vitamin K. Bleeding events occurred in a minority of patients.

Anticoagulant Rodenticides

Anticoagulant pesticides are used widely in agricultural and urban rodent control. The emergence of warfarin-resistant strains of rats led to the introduction of a new group of anticoagulant rodenticides variously referred to as 'superwarfarins', 'single dose' or 'long-acting'. This group includes the second generation 4-hydroxycoumarins brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, flocoumafen and the indanedione derivatives chlorophacinone and diphacinone. Most cases of anticoagulant rodenticide exposure involve young children and, as a consequence, the amounts ingested are almost invariably small. In contrast, intentional ingestion of large quantities of long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides may cause anticoagulation for several weeks or months. Occupational exposure has also been reported. Anticoagulant rodenticides inhibit vitamin K(1)-2,3 epoxide reductase and thus the synthesis of vitamin K and subsequently clotting factors II, VII, IX and X. The greater potency and duration of action of long-acting anticoagulant rodenticides is attributed to their: (i) greater affinity for vitamin K(1)-2,3-epoxide reductase; (ii) ability to disrupt the vitamin K(1)-epoxide cycle at more than one point; (iii) hepatic accumulation; and (iv) unusually long biological half-lives due to high lipid solubility and enterohepatic circulation. Substantial ingestion produces epistaxis, gingival bleeding, widespread bruising, haematomas, haematuria with flank pain, menorrhagia, gastrointestinal bleeding, rectal bleeding and haemorrhage into any internal organ; anaemia may result. Spontaneous haemoperitoneum has been described. Severe blood loss may result in hypovolaemic shock, coma and death. The first clinical signs of bleeding may be delayed and patients may remain anticoagulated for several days (warfarin) or days, weeks or months (long-acting anticoagulants) after ingestion of large amounts. There are now sufficient data in young children exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides to conclude that routine measurement of the international normalised ratio (INR) is unnecessary. In all other cases, the INR should be measured 36-48 hours post exposure. If the INR is normal at this time, even in the case of long-acting formulations, no further action is required. If active bleeding occurs, prothrombin complex concentrate (which contains factors II, VII, IX and X) 50 units/kg, or recombinant activated factor VII 1.2-4.8 mg or fresh frozen plasma 15 mL/kg (if no concentrate is available) and phytomenadione 10mg intravenously (100 microg/kg bodyweight for a child) should be given. If there is no active bleeding and the INR is < or =4.0, no treatment is required; if the INR is > or =4.0 phytomenadione 10mg should be administered intravenously.

Intentional Warfarin Overdose

Warfarin toxicity is common and usually results from dose changes or drug interactions. There are few reported cases of intentional overdose. The management of warfarin overdose is usually complicated by the patient using warfarin therapeutically, often for a mechanical heart valve or pulmonary embolus prophylaxis. Untreated patients have a significant bleeding risk, but treatment carries a significant risk of complete reversal of anticoagulation and consequent risk of thrombosis. The objective of this study was to describe warfarin overdoses and complications of treatment and develop a safe approach to management. Three patients are described. Two patients received a single 10-mg dose of vitamin K. Both required anticoagulation, and in one, warfarin resistance persisted for 2 weeks. In a third patient serial INR, factor levels and warfarin concentrations were measured, and incremental doses of vitamin K (up to 7.5 mg) were given based on INR. This patient did not require anticoagulation, and regular warfarin therapy was recommenced after 4 days. Patients intentionally overdosing on warfarin can be classified into three groups based on preexisting indications for warfarin: nontherapeutic, moderate risk, and major risk for thromboembolic complications. All patients should have regular INR measurements (6-hourly) to catch rapid rises. Patients not on warfarin therapeutically can be given 10 mg of vitamin K1 and repeat INRs as an outpatient. Titrating intravenous vitamin K with doses of 0.5 to 2.0 mg when INR > 5 is appropriate to reduce INR without causing warfarin resistance. The high-risk group must be kept anticoagulated, and warfarin resistance avoided.

Phytonadione therapy in a multiple-drug overdose involving warfarin

We cared for a patient who ingested an unknown amount of acetaminophen with zopiclone and warfarin. The only liver function test that was abnormal was an increased international normalized ratio (INR), which remained elevated despite treatment with subcutaneous phytonadione and a prolonged infusion of N-acetylcysteine. An interaction between acetaminophen and warfarin may have decreased the hepatic metabolism of warfarin. The patient received numerous antibiotics that may have contributed to the increased INR. The prolonged elevation of INR also may have been due to infrequent administration of phytonadione.

Pathogenicity of Campylobacter pylori--a causative factor in gastritis?

There is now much worldwide evidence that Campylobacter pylori plays a pathogenic role in the aetiology of gastritis rather than colonizing an already inflamed gastric mucosa. 1) There is a very close association between the presence of C. pylori on the gastric mucosa and histologically confirmed Type B chronic active gastritis. Ninety percent of patients with C. pylori infection have gastritis whereas less than 5% of patients with normal mucosa are colonized. 2) C. pylori only colonizes gastric type mucosa; it is not found colonizing intestinal type mucosa in the stomach. 3) Two volunteer studies have confirmed Koch's third and fourth postulates. Ingestion of C. pylori led to the development of histologically proven gastritis. 4) Outbreaks of hypochlorhydric C. pylori gastritis have occurred. In one such epidemic 17 of 37 volunteers developed C. pylori hypochlorhydric gastritis after acid secretion studies were undertaken with an unsterilized pH electrode. 5) Susceptible animal models (gnotobiotic piglets and the macacus monkey) inoculated with a suspension of C. pylori have developed histologically proven gastritis. 6) Clearance of C. pylori with antimicrobial agents (amoxicillin or nitrofurantoin) or bismuth salts (colloidal bismuth subcitrate or bismuth salicylate), alone or in combination, leads to rapid resolution of the histologically confirmed gastritis. If relapse occurs the gastritis returns.