Key result
In vitro thrombomodulin alfa matches APC for antithrombogenic effects but shows weaker anticoagulant activity.
Why the study?
Clinical trials suggested that thrombomodulin alfa has a lower bleeding risk than recombinant human activated protein C, but the mechanisms explaining this difference were unclear.
Does thrombomodulin alfa differ from activated protein C in its effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis in vitro?
Does thrombomodulin alfa differ from activated protein C in its effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis in vitro?
In vitro findings suggest TM alfa has a lower bleeding risk than APC due to weaker anticoagulant and antifibrinolytic effects despite similar antithrombogenic efficacy.
Although thrombomodulin alfa (TM alfa), recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, exerts antithrombogenic effects through activated protein C (APC), clinical trials suggested that TM alfa has a lower bleeding risk than does recombinant human APC. To address the mechanism explaining this difference, effects of TM alfa and APC on thrombogenic, coagulation, and fibrinolytic processes were compared in vitro. TM alfa and APC inhibited generation of thrombogenic markers, thrombin, and prothrombin fragment F1+2 and prolonged coagulation parameters, activated clotting time (ACT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Concentrations of TM alfa effective for thrombin and F1+2 generation inhibition were comparable to those of APC. However, effects of TM alfa on ACT and APTT were clearly weaker than those of APC. TM alfa significantly prolonged clot lysis time (CLT) and decreased LY30, a parameter of degree of fibrinolysis in thromboelastography, whereas APC significantly shortened CLT and increased LY30. These results suggested that while the antithrombogenic effects of TM alfa were similar to those of APC, its anticoagulant effects were lower. In addition, effects of TM alfa were antifibrinolytic, while those of APC were profibrinolytic.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Tanaka et al. (2018) studied this question. Thrombomodulin alfa (TM alfa) vs. Activated protein C (APC) was evaluated on Effects on thrombogenic, coagulation, and fibrinolytic processes (thrombin, F1+2, ACT, APTT, CLT, LY30). In vitro, thrombomodulin alfa showed similar antithrombogenic effects to activated protein C but had weaker anticoagulant effects and was antifibrinolytic rather than profibrinolytic.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: