Medication error when switching from warfarin to rivaroxaban leading to spontaneous large ecchymosis of the abdominal and chest wall

Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy may be inappropriate if prescription was incorrect, the patient’s physiological parameters change, or interacting concomitant medications are erroneously added. The aim of this report was to illustrate inappropriate NOAC prescription in a 78-year-old w...

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Bibliografiska uppgifter
Huvudupphovsmän: Flavio Egger, Federica Targa, Ivan Unterholzner, Russell P. Grant, Markus Herrmann, Christian J. Wiedermann
Materialtyp: Artikel
Språk:English
Publicerad: MDPI AG 2016-08-01
Serie:Clinics and Practice
Ämnen:
Länkar:https://www.clinicsandpractice.org/index.php/cp/article/view/873
Beskrivning
Sammanfattning:Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy may be inappropriate if prescription was incorrect, the patient’s physiological parameters change, or interacting concomitant medications are erroneously added. The aim of this report was to illustrate inappropriate NOAC prescription in a 78-year-old woman with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and borderline renal dysfunction who was switched from warfarin to rivaroxaban and subsequently developed bruising with hemorrhagic shock and acute on chronic renal failure. Administration of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate effectively reversed coagulopathy and stopped bleeding. Retrospective determination of circulating plasma levels of rivaroxaban and warfarin confirmed that excessive anticoagulation was likely due to warfarin that the patient probably continued to take although rivaroxaban was initiated. Pharmacodynamic interaction between rivaroxaban and warfarin may not only be additive but synergistic. In patients at high risk of complications, judicious prescribing and dosing of NOACs, and regular monitoring of concomitant medications and renal function are highly recommended.
ISSN:2039-7275
2039-7283