rivaroxaban and Hematoma--Subdural--Spinal

Topics: Factor Xa Inhibitors; Female; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Rivaroxaban; Spinal Injuries; Spine

We report on a 72-year-old male patient who developed a nontraumatic spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) during rivaroxaban therapy, a relatively new orally administered direct factor Xa inhibitor.. The patient sustained a sudden onset of interscapular pain, followed by gait impairment and paraplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine demonstrated SSDH from T6 to T8. Laboratory tests revealed a high rivaroxaban level, associated with a major hemorrhagic risk. Surgery was, therefore, performed the following morning, after normalization of coagulation parameters.. Determining the time of safe surgery remains challenging when hemorrhagic complications happen with direct factor Xa inhibitor, especially when neurological prognosis is engaged. Spinal subdural hematoma has not previously been reported following rivaroxaban therapy.

Topics: Aged; Factor Xa Inhibitors; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Paraplegia; Rivaroxaban; Spinal Cord Diseases

A 79-year-old lean man with a height of 157cm and weight of 42kg (body mass index, 17.2kg/m(2)) receiving rivaroxaban developed an intracranial subdural hematoma and was treated conservatively. Because he had a reduced creatinine clearance of 44mL/min, his dosage of rivaroxaban was reduced from 15 to 10mg daily according to official Japanese prescribing information. However, he developed bilateral intracranial subdural hematomas 2weeks later. Plasma rivaroxaban concentration on anti-factor Xa chromogenic assay was elevated at 301ng/mL, suggesting excessive accumulation. He underwent burr hole drainage and resumed anticoagulation with warfarin. Subsequently, he developed a lumbosacral hematoma. He was treated conservatively and discharged without neurological sequelae. The main cause of the increased concentration of rivaroxaban was believed to be his older age and low body weight. The etiology of the spinal hematoma was suspected to be the migration of intracranial hematoma to the spinal subdural space.

Topics: Aged; Anticoagulants; Atrial Fibrillation; Drainage; Factor Xa Inhibitors; Hematoma, Subdural, Intracranial; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal; Humans; Male; Rivaroxaban; Warfarin

Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma (SSDH) is a rare but disabling condition, accounting for only 4.1% of all intraspinal hematomas. Risk factors include arteriovenous malformations, coagulopathy, therapeutic anticoagulation, underlying neoplasms, or following spinal puncture. Vitamin K antagonists, antiplatelet agents, and heparinoids have been associated with SSDHs in prior reports. To the best of our knowledge, no cases have reported this association with the factor Xa inhibitor, rivaroxaban, and SSDHs.. We report the case of a 69-year-old Honduran man with a 5-year history of symptomatic palpitations due to non-valvular atrial fibrillation. He was initially refractory to pharmacologic therapy. He underwent cardioversion in February 2014. After cardioversion, he remained asymptomatic on flecainide. He was anticoagulated on rivaroxaban 20 mg daily without incident since early 2013 until presentation in August 2014. He presented with sudden onset of excruciating upper and lower back pain after minimal movement. This was immediately followed by bilateral lower extremity paresis rapidly progressing to paraplegia with bowel and bladder dysfunction over 15 minutes. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an acute spinal subdural hematoma extending from T3 inferiorly to the conus medullaris. Six months after undergoing cervical and lumbar drainage procedures, he has not recovered bowel, bladder, or lower extremity neurologic function.. Non-traumatic spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma is a rare neurological emergency that may occur during the use of rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Physicians should suspect SSDH in patients on rivaroxaban with acute onset of severe back pain and neurologic symptoms to improve the odds of a favorable outcome.

Topics: Aged; Atrial Fibrillation; Factor Xa Inhibitors; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Rivaroxaban