Aprotinin in adults at high risk of major blood loss during isolated CABG with cardiopulmonary bypass: a profile of its use in the EU
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Funding: The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.
Conflicts of interest: K.A. Lyseng-Williamson is an employee of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature and the Editor of Drugs & Therapy Perspectives, and has no other conflicts of interest to declare. The Editor of D&TP was not be involved in any publishing decisions for the manuscript.
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Abstract
Prophylactic treatment with aprotinin, a haemostatic antifibrinolytic agent, is indicated to reduce blood loss and blood transfusion in adults with a high risk of major bleeding undergoing primary or repeat isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass. Overall, aprotinin was consistently more effective than tranexamic acid, ε-aminocaproic acid, desmopressin and placebo in reducing massive blood loss, the need for transfusions of blood products, and the need for reoperation due to diffuse bleeding in trials in this patient population, and was generally well-tolerated. The approval of aprotinin in the EU was reinstated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in 2012, following subsequent analysis of the clinical data that led to its suspension in 2007. The EMA analysis concluded that the reduction in massive bleeding provided by aprotinin in patients undergoing isolated CABG is clinically relevant, as it reduces complications, the need for blood product transfusions and the length of hospital stay, without increasing mortality. The relaunch of aprotinin was accompanied by a risk management to assess the pattern of use and safety of aprotinin in clinical practice. Data from centres enrolled in the Nordic Aprotinin Patient Registry are being collected and will be assessed in the final report.
