Premium
The danger of relying on the APTT and PT in patients on DOAC therapy, a potential patient safety issue
Author(s) -
Adcock D. M.,
Gosselin R. C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of laboratory hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.705
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1751-553X
pISSN - 1751-5521
DOI - 10.1111/ijlh.12658
Subject(s) - computer science , business
Prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time ( APTT ) and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio ( PT / INR ) correlates poorly with plasma concentrations of direct oral anticoagulant agents ( DOACS ) including direct thrombin and direct Xa inhibitors. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that patients can have normal APTT and PT / INR with a therapeutic plasma concentration of a DOAC . Clinicians can no longer rely on a normal APTT and PT to determine that an anticoagulated patient is safe to undergo an invasive procedure. Laboratory scientists need to play a key and active role in educating clinicians about the limitations of the APTT and PT in patients on DOAC prophylaxis or therapy.