Pharmacokinetic Study of Recombinant AT III in Neonates Undergoing ECMO

Summary

Maintenance of adequate anticoagulation or blood thinning is of critical importance when patients are placed on extracorporeal life support, such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). During ECMO, a patient's entire blood volume is constantly exposed to the artificial surfaces of the ECMO circuit. This exposure activates the clotting cascade, and not only is the circuit at risk for clot formation, but the patient is also at risk for clotting within the body. Hence anticoagulation is vital in allowing the ECMO circuit to support a patient for an extended period of time. Anticoagulation on ECMO is achieved primarily by the use of a blood thinning agent called heparin. Heparin's main mechanism of action is to activate an enzyme called antithrombin III (AT III). AT III deficiency has been shown to be a common finding in pediatric patients requiring ECMO. This deficiency may then result in ineffective blood thinning by heparin. The purpose of this study is to determine how a neonate on ECMO, processes and eliminates a medication called ATryn® from their body. ATryn® is a form ATIII that is made from goat's milk. This will ultimately aid in establishing standardized dosing for the use of ATryn® in this patient population.

Timeline

Start

2013-07

Primary completion

2014-10

Completion

2014-10

Publications

• Background Niebler RA, Christensen M, Berens R, Wellner H, Mikhailov T, Tweddell JS. Antithrombin replacement during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Artif Organs. 2011 Nov;35(11):1024-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1594.2011.01384.x.
• Background Agati S, Ciccarello G, Salvo D, Turla G, Undar A, Mignosa C. Use of a novel anticoagulation strategy during ECMO in a pediatric population: single-center experience. ASAIO J. 2006 Sep-Oct;52(5):513-6. doi: 10.1097/01.mat.0000242596.92625.a0.
• Background Sievert A, Uber W, Laws S, Cochran J. Improvement in long-term ECMO by detailed monitoring of anticoagulation: a case report. Perfusion. 2011 Jan;26(1):59-64. doi: 10.1177/0267659110385513. Epub 2010 Nov 5.
• Background Konkle BA, Bauer KA, Weinstein R, Greist A, Holmes HE, Bonfiglio J. Use of recombinant human antithrombin in patients with congenital antithrombin deficiency undergoing surgical procedures. Transfusion. 2003 Mar;43(3):390-4. doi: 10.1046/j.1537-2995.2003.00315.x.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.