A Randomized Controlled Trial of Antithrombin Supplementation During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Objectives

Supplementation of antithrombin might decrease the amount of heparin needed to achieve a given anticoagulation target during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. However, exogenous antithrombin itself may increase the risk of bleeding. We conceived a study to evaluate the effect of antithrombin supplementation in adult patients requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for respiratory failure on heparin dose, adequacy of anticoagulation, and safety.

Design

Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Setting

ICUs of two Italian referral extracorporeal membrane oxygenation centers.

Patients

Adult patients requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe respiratory failure and unfractionated heparin for systemic anticoagulation.

Interventions

Before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation start, patients were randomized to either receive antithrombin concentrate to maintain a plasmatic level 80–120% (treatment) or not (control) during the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation course.

Measurements and Main Results

The primary outcome was the total amount of heparin required to maintain activated partial thromboplastin time ratio 1.5–2. Secondary outcomes were anti-factor Xa, the incidence of hemorrhagic and thrombotic events, and the amount of blood products transfused. Twenty-four patients in the treatment group and 24 in the control group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Antithrombin was 109.5% (93.0–123.0%) in the treatment group and 84.0% (68.5–98.0%) in the control group (p = 0.001). Supplementation of antithrombin did not decrease heparin dose (13.5 international units/kg/hr [9.6–17.9 international units/kg/hr] vs 15.1 international units/kg/hr [10.7–18.3 international units/kg/hr] in the treatment and control group, respectively; p = 0.33) and anti-Factor Xa levels (0.4 international units/mL [0.3–0.5 international units/mL] vs 0.3 international units/mL [0.2–0.5 international units/mL] in the treatment group and control group respectively; p = 0.65). Bleeding, blood product transfusions, and thrombosis were not different in the two groups.

Conclusions

Antithrombin supplementation may not decrease heparin requirement nor diminish the incidence of bleeding and/or thrombosis in adult patients on venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.