NovoSeven® in warfarin-treated patients

Haemorrhages represent a major complication of treatment with vitamin K antagonists. In cases of severe bleeding, a prompt effect on the increased International Normalized Ratio value is vital to achieve haemostasis. As conventional treatment, that is plasma or plasmaderived concentrates, carries the risk of blood-borne virus transmission, new treatments are needed. An open, multicentre pilot trial is currently under way to determine the effect of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven®) administered to patients experiencing a bleeding episode after receiving vitamin K antagonists. When rFVIIa was given to a patient with a warfarin-induced nosebleed, it had an immediate haemostatic effect and the International Normalized Ratio value virtually normalized.Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis11 (suppl 1):S113-S115 © 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.