Intravenous administration of 1 mg phytonadione reduced INR more effectively at 8 hours compared to subcutaneous administration (mean INR 4.6 vs 8.0; P=0.006).
RCT (n=22)
randomized
Does intravenous phytonadione reverse excessive anticoagulation more rapidly than subcutaneous phytonadione in patients with asymptomatic prolongation of prothrombin time?
Intravenous administration of 1 mg phytonadione reverses excessive warfarin anticoagulation more rapidly and effectively than subcutaneous administration at 8 and 24 hours.
Absolute Event Rate: 4.6% vs 8%
p-value: p=.006
BACKGROUND: Excessive anticoagulation increases the risk of hemorrhagic complications associated with oral anticoagulant therapy. Oral or parenteral phytonadione is used to reverse excessive anticoagulation. Intravenous (IV) phytonadione, while effective, is associated with a small risk of serious anaphylactic reactions. Subcutaneous (SC) administration is safer, but there is little information on its relative efficacy in small doses. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with asymptomatic prolongation of prothrombin time were prospectively randomized and treated with 1 mg of phytonadione IV or 1 mg SC. Prothrombin time was measured at baseline and at 8 and 24 hours after phytonadione administration and expressed as international normalized ratio (INR). RESULTS: Mean INR at baseline was 8.0 and 8.5 in the IV and SC groups, respectively (P = .70). At 8 hours, mean INR was 4.6 in the IV group and 8.0 in the SC group (P = .006), and at 24 hours, mean INR was 3.1 in the IV group and 5.0 in the SC group (P = .009). Mean decrease in INR 8 hours after administration of phytonadione was 3.4 in the IV group and 0.4 in the SC group (P = .02), and mean decrease in INR after 24 hours was 4.9 in the IV group and 3.4 in the SC group (P = .18). CONCLUSIONS: For patients who are excessively anticoagulated with warfarin, small doses of SC phytonadione may not correct the INR as rapidly or as effectively as when administered IV. Higher doses must be considered for more rapid and complete reversal of anticoagulation by the SC route.
Raj et al. (Mon,) conducted a rct in asymptomatic prolongation of prothrombin time (n=22). Intravenous phytonadione vs. Subcutaneous phytonadione (1 mg) was evaluated on Mean INR at 8 hours (p=.006). Intravenous administration of 1 mg phytonadione reduced INR more effectively at 8 hours compared to subcutaneous administration (mean INR 4.6 vs 8.0; P=0.006).