Assessing Bleeding Risk in Patients With Intentional Overdoses of Novel Antiplatelet and Anticoagulant Medications

• Published in: Annals of emergency medicine 2018-03, Vol.71 (3), p.273-278
• Main Authors: Levine, Michael, Beuhler, Michael C., Pizon, Anthony, Cantrel, F. Lee, Spyres, Meghan B., LoVecchio, Frank, Skolnik, Aaron B., Brooks, Daniel E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0196-0644; 1097-6760
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2017.08.046

In recent years, the use of novel anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents has become widespread. Little is known about the toxicity and bleeding risk of these agents after acute overdose. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the relative risk of all bleeding and major bleeding in patients with acute overdose of novel antiplatelet and anticoagulant medications. This study is a retrospective study of acute ingestion of apixaban, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, dabigatran, edoxaban, prasugrel, rivaroxaban, and ticagrelor reported to 7 poison control centers in 4 states during a 10-year span. The prevalence of bleeding for each agent was calculated, and hemorrhage was classified as trivial, minor, or major. A total of 322 acute overdoses were identified, with the majority of cases involving clopidogrel (260; 80.7%). Hemorrhage occurred in 16 cases (4.9%), including 7 cases of clopidogrel, 6 cases of rivaroxaban, 2 cases of dabigatran, and 1 case of apixaban. Most cases of hemorrhage were classified as major (n=9). Comparing the novel anticoagulants with the P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, the relative risk for any bleeding with novel anticoagulant was 6.68 (95% confidence interval 2.63 to 17.1); the relative risk of major bleeding was 18.1 (95% confidence interval 3.85 to 85.0). Acute overdose of novel anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents is associated with a small risk of significant hemorrhage. The risk is greater with the factor Xa inhibitors and direct thrombin inhibitors than with the P2Y12 receptor antagonists.