UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Reversal of Vitamin K Antagonists in Intracranial Hemorrhage

Category: Critical Care

Keywords: Intracranial hemorrhage, ICH, PCC, FFP, vitamin K antagonist, VKA, coumadin, warfarin (PubMed Search)

Posted: 12/20/2016 by Daniel Haase, MD (Updated: 2/18/2017)
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The Neurocritical Care Society and Society of Critical Care Medicine just came out with new Guidelines for Reversal of Antithrombotics in Intracranial Hemorrhage (ICH) [1]

--PCC is now recommended over FFP in reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) with elevated INR. Either should be co-administered with 10mg IV vitamin K. (Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence)

TAKE AWAY: PCC should be probably be given over FFP in VKA-ICH when available

Additional Information

--Seems to be primarily based on a recent Lancet trial, which was stopped early due to safety concerns [2], but demonstrated more rapid reversal of INR and less hematoma expansion.

--In that study, all hematoma expansion related deaths occurred in the FFP group. 

--Study was not designed to look at 90 day outcome, but trended towards improved survival.

References

1. Guideline for Reversal of Antithrombotics in Intracranial Hemorrhage: Executive Summary. A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Neurocritical Care Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Frontera JA, Lewin JJ 3rd, et al. Crit Care Med. 2016 Dec;44(12):2251-2257. 

2. Fresh frozen plasma versus prothrombin complex concentrate in patients with intracranial haemorrhage related to vitamin K antagonists (INCH): a randomised trial. Steiner T, Poli S, et al. Lancet Neurol. 2016 May;15(6):566-73.