Application of argatroban, direct thrombin inhibitor, in heparin- intolerant patients requiring extracorporeal circulation

This study describes the present knowledge regarding the clinical application of argatroban, a direct competitive thrombin inhibitor for heparin-intolerant patients, including those with congenital and acquired antithrombin III deficiencies, those with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and those with high levels of polymorphonuclear granulocyte elastase. These patients are often associated with intracircuit clot formation with heparin anticoagulation during extracorporeal circulation. Therefore, argatroban may be chosen as one of the alternate anticoagulants. Because the anticoagulant effect of argatroban is reflected in the prolongation of activated thromboplastin time, monitoring is easy, similar to that for heparin. Because argatroban has a fast acting anticoagulant effect without any cofactors such as antithrombin III, this drug is a favorable anticoagulant for heparin-intolerant patients with antithrombin III deficiencies requiring extracorporeal circulation. In adverse reactions to heparin, heparin acts as an antigen after complexing with platelet factor 4, which leads to life- threatening heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. As argatroban prevents heparin-induced platelet aggregation, it is effective for use as a therapeutic anticoagulant. In other clinical applications, heparin decreases antithrombin activity and causes intracircuit clot formation during extracorporeal circulation when the polymorphonuclear granulocyte elastase level is very high. The antithrombin activity shows less decrease when argatroban is substituted for heparin. These findings indicate that argatroban is a useful alternative anticoagulant in these heparin-intolerant patients.