Spontaneous Perinephric Hematoma with Newer Oral Anticoagulation in Kidney Transplant Recipient

DTIs : Direct Thrombin Inhibitors
DVT : Deep Vein Thrombosis
Hb : Hemoglobin
NOAC : New Oral Anti-coagulants
PE : Pulmonary Embolism
P-gp : P-glycoprotein
VTE : Venous Thromboembolism
VKA : Vitamin K Antagonist

A 65 year old man with a history of end stage renal disease of unknown etiology and a kidney transplantation in 1990 presented to the emergency room with complaints of sudden onset right flank pain along with low urine output for a few days. In addition to dabigatran for atrial fibrillation, his other home medications included clonidine, atenolol, nifedipine, furosemide, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone. Vital signs were stable on presentation. His serum creatinine at presentation was 3.39 mg/dl from baseline creatinine of 1.4 to 1.6 mg/dl; serum potassium was 7.7 mEq/dl (normal 3.5 to 5.1 mEq/dl); and Hemoglobin (Hb) was 7.5 gm/dl (prior Hb was 10.9 gm/dl). A non-contrast CT scan of abdomen and pelvis showed a large retroperitoneal hematoma (33 cm × 15.3 cm × 11.6 cm). Mass effect on the surrounding retroperitoneal and intraperitoneal structures extending into the pelvis pushed the transplanted kidney forward, causing minimal upper pole collecting system dilation without hydronephrosis (Figure 1A). There was no history of trauma or recent kidney biopsy, which are known risk factors for intra-abdominal hematoma. He received emergent hemodialysis for hyperkalemia and was aggressively transfused with packed red blood cells along with prothrombin complex concentrate. He was managed conservatively with a stabilization of hemoglobin and recovery of renal function towards the baseline within a week. A repeat CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis was obtained at eight weeks, which showed a significant improvement in right retroperitoneal hematoma with only a small residual collection, and no mass in the native or transplanted kidney (Figure 1B).

 

Figure 1: (A) Large perinephric hematoma and hematoma extending from the diaphragm to pelvic inlet. (B) Repeat CT scan abdomen in eight weeks showed significant improvement in the hematoma. Two small residual hematomas (measuring 4.3 cm × 2.0 cm located posterior to the right transplant kidney and 5.1 cm × 2.4 cm in the right lateral abdominal wall).

There have been very few case reports and post-marketing surveillance data of dabigatran causing spontaneous intra-abdominal hematoma and hyperkalemia, especially in patients with renal insufficiency [1]. Our patient had significant life threatening hyperkalemia, which could be due to the medication itself or likely related to the large hematoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a renal transplant recipient with spontaneous hematoma on NOACs.

Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (DTIs), dabigatran, and the direct Factor Xa inhibitors apixaban and rivaroxaban are newer oral anticoagulants that were approved for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation in October 2010 and Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), specifically Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE), in April 2014.

When compared to traditional therapy with warfarin, these agents have the advantage of not requiring regular blood draws for monitoring along with minimal food and drug interactions [2]. The major drawback of these agents is absence of a reversal agent in cases of clinically significant bleeding, although the FDA has recently approved a reversal agent, idarucizumab (Praxbind), for emergent or life-threatening bleeding associated with dabigatran [3].

Renal dose adjustment is very important with New Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) as these medications are cleared by the kidneys to variable extent (about 30% for apixaban and rivaroxaban and up to 85% for dabigatran) [2]. The product inserts for these drugs recommends avoiding use in the patients with creatinine clearance of less than 15 ml/min.

Dabigatran is a reversible inhibitor of Factor IIa (thrombin) with a half life of 12 to 17 hours [4]. Inhibition of factor IIa prevents conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin and cross-linking of fibrin clot [4]. It is a substrate of the efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) which affects absorption of the prodrug [4]. There is a potential of increased drug exposure and bleeding risk with concomitant exposure to P-gp inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine, carvedilol, amiodarone etc.) [4]. About 80% of the drug elimination is via kidneys [4].

Dabigatran has shown non-inferiority to warfarin for the treatment of VTE, along with reduction of major bleeding [5]. However, there is very limited information on special subgroups such as patients with renal impairment, cancer or fragile patients, who may be at higher risk of bleeding [5].

Dabigatran showed non-inferiority in reduction of recurrent VTE when compared with warfarin in RE-COVER trial [2.4% vs 2.2% Hazard Ratio (HR) 1.1, 95% CI = 0.65 -1.84; P < 0.001] [2]. A similar trend was observed in RE-COVER 2 trial [2.3 vs 2.2%; HR = 1.08; 95% CI 0.45 -1.48] [2,5].

In both of these studies, dabigatran had similar rates of bleeding when compared with warfarin [RE-COVER trial (1.6% vs 1.9%; HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.45 -1.48); RE-COVER 2 trial (1.2% vs 1.7%; HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.36 - 1.32)] [2,5].

A pooled analysis of these studies consisting of about 5100 patients showed results consistent with the individual studies with similar benefit risk profile, irrespective of renal insufficiency and cancer; however, there is no data on clinical risks in kidney transplant recipients [5]. Also, these studies excluded patients with severe renal insufficiency. The drug should be used cautiously in patients with fluctuating renal function and advanced kidney disease [4]. Both the clinical efficacy and risk of bleeding increases with age [5]. Data from RE-LY trial shows a higher bleeding risk in patients aged 75 and above [4].

Our patient was on cyclosporine (P-gp inhibitor) which may have increased the bleeding risk with dabigatran. Initial CT angiogram was negative for ruptured arterial aneurysm or pseudo-aneurysm. Also, there was no evidence of renal/adrenal mass on repeat CT scan.