Evaluation of Direct Oral Anticoagulant Reversal Agents in Intracranial Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Heart and Vascular Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Division of Vascular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota. Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota. Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona. Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Departments of Pharmacy and Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Center for Digital Health, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.

JAMA network open. 2022;5(11):e2240145
PICO Summary

Population

Adult patients with intracranial hemorrhage receiving treatment with a direct oral anticoagulant (36 studies, n= 1,832).

Intervention

4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC), (n= 967).

Comparison

Andexanet alfa (AA), (n= 525). Idarucizumab(n= 340).

Outcome

For 4F-PCC, anticoagulation reversal was 77% (95% CI 72% to 82%; I2 = 55%); all-cause mortality, 26% (95% CI 20% to 32%; I2 = 68%), and thromboembolic events, 8% (95% CI 5% to 12%; I2 = 41%). For AA, anticoagulation reversal was 75% (95% CI 67% to 81%; I2 = 48%); all-cause mortality, 24% (95% CI 16% to 34%; I2 = 73%), and thromboembolic events, 14% (95% CI 10% to 19%; I2 = 16%). Idarucizumab for reversal of dabigatran had an anticoagulation reversal rate of 82% (95% CI 55% to 95%; I2 = 41%), all-cause mortality, 11% (95% CI 8% to 15%, I2 = 0%), and thromboembolic events, 5% (95% CI 3% to 8%; I2 = 0%). A direct retrospective comparison of 4F-PCC and AA showed no differences in anticoagulation reversal, proportional mortality, or thromboembolic events.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has high morbidity and mortality. The safety and outcome data of DOAC reversal agents in ICH are limited. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety and outcomes of DOAC reversal agents among patients with ICH. DATA SOURCES PubMed, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Embase, EBSCO, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases were searched from inception through April 29, 2022. STUDY SELECTION The eligibility criteria were (1) adult patients (age ≥18 years) with ICH receiving treatment with a DOAC, (2) reversal of DOAC, and (3) reported safety and anticoagulation reversal outcomes. All nonhuman studies and case reports, studies evaluating patients with ischemic stroke requiring anticoagulation reversal or different dosing regimens of DOAC reversal agents, and mixed study groups with DOAC and warfarin were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were used for abstracting data and assessing data quality and validity. Two reviewers independently selected the studies and abstracted data. Data were pooled using the random-effects model. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was proportion with anticoagulation reversed. The primary safety end points were all-cause mortality and thromboembolic events after the reversal agent. RESULTS A total of 36 studies met criteria for inclusion, with a total of 1832 patients (967 receiving 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate [4F-PCC]; 525, andexanet alfa [AA]; 340, idarucizumab). The mean age was 76 (range, 68-83) years, and 57% were men. For 4F-PCC, anticoagulation reversal was 77% (95% CI, 72%-82%; I2 = 55%); all-cause mortality, 26% (95% CI, 20%-32%; I2 = 68%), and thromboembolic events, 8% (95% CI, 5%-12%; I2 = 41%). For AA, anticoagulation reversal was 75% (95% CI, 67%-81%; I2 = 48%); all-cause mortality, 24% (95% CI, 16%-34%; I2 = 73%), and thromboembolic events, 14% (95% CI, 10%-19%; I2 = 16%). Idarucizumab for reversal of dabigatran had an anticoagulation reversal rate of 82% (95% CI, 55%-95%; I2 = 41%), all-cause mortality, 11% (95% CI, 8%-15%, I2 = 0%), and thromboembolic events, 5% (95% CI, 3%-8%; I2 = 0%). A direct retrospective comparison of 4F-PCC and AA showed no differences in anticoagulation reversal, proportional mortality, or thromboembolic events. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In the absence of randomized clinical comparison trials, the overall anticoagulation reversal, mortality, and thromboembolic event rates in this systematic review and meta-analysis appeared similar among available DOAC reversal agents for managing ICH. Cost, institutional formulary status, and availability may restrict reversal agent choice, particularly in small community hospitals.
Study details
Study Design : Systematic Review
Language : eng
Credits : Bibliographic data from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine