Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa/ NovoSeven®) in the Management of Massive Bleeding in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia

Effective hemostasis can be life-saving. However, there is still lack of an ideal hemostatic drug which is safe and effective.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) is a hemostatic agent originally developed for the management of bleeding in haemophilia A and B patients with inhibitors to factor VIII or IX respectively.

Recombinant FVIIa involves in extrinsic clotting pathway where it forms a complex with tissue factor which in the presence of calcium and phospholipids activates coagulation factor X which then initiates the conversion of prothrombin into thrombin at the site of injury (Figure 1). Formation of thrombin and clot stabilises platelet plug and form a tight fibrin structure which is resistant to lysis. Due to the efficient haemostatic property but the unknown safety profile, it is only being used as one of the last resorts during massive intractable bleeding episode among the non-haemophilia patients.

Efficacy and safety profile is the most important concern of a haemostatic drug like rFVIIa. However, there is ongoing controversial evidence regarding thromboembolic complications and survival benefit of the off-label use of rFVIIa in massive bleeding (Patel et al2012).

This a study to learn about the previous usage, outcome and complications of rFVIIa use in massive intractable bleeding management in a single centre (Hospital University Sains Malaysia / HUSM) in Malaysia.