Recombinant Activated Factor VII Usage in Life Threatening Hemorrhage: A Pediatric Experience

Objective To determine the safety and efficacy of off label usage of Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in children with severe bleeding in non-hemophiliac children with diverse etiologies like leukemia, post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, dengue shock syndrome and Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Method Medical records of 16 non-hemophiliac children with 20 bleeding episodes where rFVIIa was administered only after failure of standard measures to control bleeding were retrospectively reviewed and data collected regarding patient demographics, diagnosis and location of bleeding. Blood counts, coagulation and other lab parameters, both pre and post rFVIIa, were also noted. Severity of bleeding was assessed using a scoring system used previously by Nevo S et al. A record of usage of the amount of blood components (red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and cryoprecipitate) 24 h pre and post rFVIIa was also made. The dose of rFVIIa and any adverse side effects were recorded. Results Bleeding sites were gastrointestinal (13/20), pulmonary hemorrhage (6/20) and intracranial hemorrhage (1/20). Thrombocytopenia (platelet count