CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism of Action
Fibrinogen (factor I) is a soluble plasma glycoprotein with a molecular weight of about 340 kDa. The native molecule is a dimer and consists of three pairs of polypeptide chains (Aα, Bβ and γ). Fibrinogen is a physiological substrate of three enzymes: thrombin, factor XIIIa, and plasmin.
During the coagulation process, thrombin cleaves the Aα and Bβ chains
releasing fibrinopeptides A and B (FPA and FPB, respectively).2 FPA
is separated rapidly and the remaining molecule is a soluble
fibrin monomer
(fibrin I). The slower removal of FPB results in formation of fibrin II that
is capable of polymerization that occurs by aggregation of fibrin monomers.2
The resulting fbrin is stabilized in the presence of calcium ions and
by activated factor XIII, which acts as a transglutaminase. Factor XIIIa-induced
cross-linking of fibrin polymers renders the fibrin clot more elastic and more
resistant to fibrinolysis.3 Cross-linked fibrin is the end
result of the coagulation cascade, and provides tensile strength to a primary
hemostatic platelet plug and structure to the vessel wall.
Pharmacodynamic Action
Administration of RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use) to patients with congenital fibrinogen deficiency
replaces the missing, or low coagulation factor. Normal levels are in the range
of 200 to 450 mg/dL.4
Pharmacokinetics
A prospective, open label, uncontrolled, multicenter pharmacokinetic study
was conducted in 5 females and 9 males with congenital fibrinogen deficiency
(afibrinogenemia), ranging in age from 8 to 61 years (2 children, 3 adolescents,
9 adults). Each subject received a single intravenous dose of 70 mg/kg RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use) .
Blood samples were drawn from the patients to determine the fibrinogen
activity at baseline and up to 14 days after the infusion. The pharmacokinetic
parameters of RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use) are summarized in Table 2.
No statistically relevant difference was observed between males and females
for fibrinogen activity. Subjects less than 16 years of age (n=4) had
shorter half-life (69.9 ± 8.5) and faster clearance (0.73 ± 0.14)
compared to subjects > 16 years of age. The number of subjects less than 16
years of age in this study limits statistical interpretations.
The incremental in vivo recovery (IVR) was determined from levels obtained
up to 4 hours post-infusion. The median incremental IVR was 1.7 mg/dL (range
1.30 – 2.73 mg/dL) ncrease per mg/kg. The median in vivo recovery
indicates that a dose of 70 mg/kg will ncrease patients' fibrinogen plasma
concentration by approximately 120 mg/dL.
The pharmacokinetic analysis using fibrinogen antigen data (ELISA) was
concordant with the fibrinogen activity (Clauss assay).
Table 2: Pharmacokinetic Parameters (n=14) for Fibrinogen
Activity
Parameters |
Mean ± SD (range) |
Half-life [hours] |
78.7 ± 18.13 (55.73-117.26) |
Cmax [mg/dL] |
140 ± 27 (100-210) |
AUC for dose of 70 mg/kg [mg*hr/mL] |
124.3 ± 24.16 (81.73-156.40) |
Clearance [mL/h/kg] |
0.59 ± 0.13 (0.45-0.86) |
Mean residence time [hours] |
92.8 ± 20.11 (66.14-126.44) |
Volume of distribution at steady state [mL/kg] |
52.7 ± 7.48 (36.22-67.67) |
Clinical Studies
The pharmacokinetic study evaluated the single-dose PK (see Pharmacokinetics)
and maximum clot firmness (MCF) in subjects with afibrinogenemia. MCF
was determined by thromboelastometry (ROTEM) testing. MCF was measured to demonstrate
functional activity of replacement fibrinogen when a fxed dose of
RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use) was administered. Clot firmness is a functional parameter that
depends on: activation of coagulation, fibrinogen content of the sample
and polymerization/crosslinking of the fibrin network. Thromboelastometry
has been shown to be a functional marker for the assessment of fibrinogen
content and for the effects of fibrinogen supplementation on clinical effcacy.5
For each subject, the MCF was determined before (baseline) and one hour after
the single dose administration of RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use) . RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use) was found to be effective
in increasing clot firmness in patients with congenital fibrinogen deficiency
(afibrinogenemia) as measured by thromboelastometry. The study results demonstrated
that the MCF values were signifcantly higher after administration of RiaSTAP (fibrinogen concentrate (human) for intravenous use)
than at baseline (see Table 3). The mean change from pre-infusion to
1 hour post-infusion was 8.9 mm in the primary analysis (9.9 mm for subjects
< 16 years old and 8.5 mm for subjects ≥ 16 to < 65 years old). The
mean change in MCF values closely approximated the levels expected from adding
known amounts of fibrinogen to plasma in vitro6. Hemostatic
effcacy in acute bleeding episodes, and its correlation with MCF, are being
verifed in a postmarketing study.
Table 3: MCF [mm] (ITT population)
Time point |
n |
Mean ± SD |
Median (range) |
Pre-infusion |
13 |
0 ± 0 |
0 (0-0) |
1 hour post-infusion |
13 |
10.3 ± 2.7 |
10.0 (6.5-16.5) |
Mean change (primary analysis)a |
15b |
8.9 ± 4.4 |
9.5 (0-16.5) |
MCF = maximum clot frmness; mm = millimeter; ITT = intention-to-treat
a p-value was < 0.0001.
b The mean change was set to 0 for 2 subjects with missing MCF
data. |
REFERENCES
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patients with nherited afibrinogenemia or hypofibrinogenemia. J Thromb Haemost
2006; 4:1634-7.
2. Kreuz W, Meili E, Peter-Salonen K, et al. Pharmacokinetic properties of
a pasteurized fibrinogen concentrate. Transfusion and Apheresis Science
2005;32:239-46.
3. Colman R, Clowes A, George J, et al. Overview of Hemostasis. In: Hemostasis
and Thrombosis: Basic Principles and Clinical Practice (5th ed.). Colman
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Philadelphia 2006:11-14.
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on Reversal of Dilutional Coagulopathy: An In Vitro Model. Anesth
Analg 2006; 102:347-351.
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monitoring of fibrinogen concentrate therapy in fibrinogen deficiency. Blood
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