Management of Bleeding in Post-liver Disease, Surgery and Biopsy in Patients With High Uncorrected International Normalized Ratio With Prothrombin Complex Concentrate: An Iranian Experience

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) in the management of bleeding in patients with liver disease and patients undergoing surgery or biopsy who had a high uncorrected international normalized ratio (INR). OBJECTIVES: In this study, we examined an Iranian sample and investigated the efficacy of PCC to manage bleeding in patients with liver disease and also patients with high uncorrected INR who were scheduled for surgery or biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 patients including 16 patients with post-liver disease bleeding (group 1) and 9 patients with high uncorrected INR who were scheduled for surgery or biopsy (group 2) were enrolled. All patients were treated with 25 IU/kg PCC, and efficacy was defined as any reduction in or cessation of bleeding episodes and correction of INR before surgery or biopsy. The patients were also evaluated for any adverse effects. RESULTS: INR decreased significantly in both groups of patients, with no bleeding episodes during or after the study in group 1 and during or after surgery/biopsy in group 2. All patients tolerated the therapy well without any significant adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of PCC therapy was satisfactory in this study. PCC therapy in patients with liver disease and patients undergoing surgery or biopsy seems to be effective and safe, and may be a good treatment strategy for these patients, if fresh frozen plasma or vitamin K are not effective.