INTRODUCTION Coagulopathy can occur after hemorrhage, trauma and resuscitation, and has been associated with dilution of coagulation factors and hypothermia. Recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) has been used, often as a last resort, to improve hemostasis in trauma/hemorrhage patients with coagulopathy. The aim of this study was to further characterize the effects of rFVIIa on various coag...

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To compare the accuracy of three coagulation tests (prothrombin time [PT], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], and fibrinogen [FBG]) performed on blood samples collected through heparinized tunneled venous access devices (TVADs) with those from venipuncture. DESIGN Descriptive comparative with patients serving as their own controls. SETTING Pediatric comprehensi...

BACKGROUND Protocolled treatment with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a subject of ongoing debate. Even though international guidelines prescribe calibration of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to 0.3 to 0.7 U/mL anti-Xa activity to establish an UFH therapeutic range, evidence for this approach remains scarce. In this study, we evaluated different strategies to delineate the UFH...

BACKGROUND Despite large interpatient variability in dose response, heparin is utilized for treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Current data on the optimal heparin dosing in obese patients are conflicting. OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the time and dose required to achieve a therapeutic activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) in nonobese, obese, and severely obese patien...

OBJECTIVE For the examination of psychological stress effects on coagulation, the Dill and Costill correction (DCC) for hemoconcentration effects has been used to adjust for stress-induced plasma volume changes. Although the correction is appropriate for adjusting concentrations of various large blood constituents, it may be inappropriate for time-dependent or functional coagulation assays. Two...

Thrombotic disorders increase the risk of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular complications and represent a major health problem worldwide. Anticoagulants are extensively used in treatment of these disorders. Vitamin K antagonists, like Warfarin, are frequently used in medication. Vascular calcification (VC) is a significant side-effect of vitamin K antagonists especially Warfarin. There is an urgen...

Sodium dehydroacetate (Na-DHA) is used as a preservative in food, animal feeds and cosmetics. Severe haemorrhage in organs and prolongation of coagulation factors in Sprague-Dawley rats has been reported upon oral administration of Na-DHA. We investigated alterations in coagulation parameters and serum pharmacokinetics upon Na-DHA administration. Wistar rats were administered Na-DHA (50-200 mg/...

INTRODUCTION We report the effect of temperature and storage duration on a range of haematological analytes: activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), D-dimers, fibrinogen (Fbg), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT). All analytes were measured using a Sysmex CA7000 System with SIEMENS reagents. METHODS One hundred and sixty patients were divided into two groups: samples from group...

INTRODUCTION The 'order of draw' has been advocated since 1982 to reduce the risk of cross-contaminating blood tubes with additives from a previously filled tube. METHODS We studied 193 patients receiving oral anticoagulation. Multiple tubes were collected in a specific order using the Sarstedt Safety Monovette System. We evaluated the effect of the 'order of draw' on the prothrombin time/int...