Impact of a commercially available DOAC absorbent on two integrated procedures for lupus anticoagulant detection

• Published in: Thrombosis research Vol. 204; pp. 32 - 39
• Main Authors: Tripodi, Armando, Scalambrino, Erica, Chantarangkul, Veena, Paoletti, Oriana, Clerici, Marigrazia, Novembrino, Cristina, Boscolo-Anzoletti, Massimo, Peyvandi, Flora, Testa, Sophie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2021
• Subjects: Dilute Russel viper venom; Direct oral anticoagulants; Silica clotting time; Direct oral anticoagulants; Silica clotting time; Dilute Russel viper venom
• ISSN: 0049-3848; 1879-2472
• DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2021.06.001

Lupus anticoagulant (LA)-detection in anticoagulated patients is an unmet need, which becomes even more cogent with the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) that may lead to false-positive results.
We aimed to investigate the effect of a commercially available DOAC absorbent on residual drug concentrations, and on integrated procedures for LA-detection.
Blood from patients treated for atrial fibrillation with either dabigatran (n = 39), rivaroxaban (n = 55), apixaban (n = 47) or edoxaban (n = 47) were collected at peak and trough, and centralized for testing with two LA integrated procedures [i.e., the silica clotting time (SCT) and dilute Russel viper venom (dRVVT)] before and after DOAC absorbent exposure.
The commercially available DOAC absorbent investigated in this study proved effective in reducing the concentrations of all the investigated DOAC, although small residual drug was detected after absorption, especially in patients on edoxaban.
Results mimicking LA were observed in patients on DOAC before absorbent exposure, especially for rivaroxaban when testing was performed with dRVVT (88% rate at peak and 20% at trough) and much less with SCT (12% at peak and 8% at trough). The correspondent rate of results mimicking LA in patients on rivaroxaban after exposure was reduced [dRVVT (peak 8%, trough 4%); SCT (peak and trough 8%)], but not abolished.
Overall, in vitro DOAC absorbance by active charcoal compounds is a useful laboratory tool for LA-detection in patients on DOAC. Caution should however be exerted when used in daily practice.
•DOAC may lead to results mimicking lupus anticoagulant (LA).•Active charcoal is effective in reducing DOAC concentrations from plasma.•Results mimicking LA are common in rivaroxaban plasma tested with Russel venom test.•After rivaroxaban removal, results mimicking LA are reduced but not abolished.