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Drug Details

Aprotinin

• Drug Class Description
  Haemostatics (polyvalent protease inhibitors).
• Generic Name
  Generic
• Presentation
  Injection, aprotinin 10,000 KIU/ mL.
• Description
  Injection.
• Indications
  Aprotonin is a haemostatic. High doses offer major reductions in perioperative blood loss and the need for donor blood transfusions. It is indicated for the treatment of: patients with life threatening haemorrhage due to hyperplasminaemia; patients considered to be at high risk of major blood loss associated with open heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation; patients in whom blood transfusion is not an option so that optimal blood conservation during open heart surgery is an absolute priority (eg, Jehovah's witnesses).
• Adult Dosage
  

  To be given by slow intravenous injection or infusion. Hyperplasminaemia: 500,000 to 1, 000,000 KIU (277.8 - 555.6 Ph. Eur. units) (maximum rate 10mL/ minute) followed by 200,000 KIU minute) followed by 200,000 KIU (111.1 Ph. Eur. units) hourly if necessary, until bleeding stops.

• Child Dosage
  Hyperplasminaemia: It is recommended that a dose proportional to the adult dose, based on body weight, is calculated. Open heart surgery: Dosage has not been established.
• Elderly Dosage
  Hyperplasminaemia: The dosage above relates to persons of average body weight. Reductions of these doses should be considered in patients of below average weight. Open heart surgery: Refer to Summary of Product Characteristics.
• Contra Indications
  Known hypersensitivity to aprotinin.
• Special Precautions
  

  Avoid rapid intravenous injection of large doses. Caution in patients treated intermittently or patients treated previously with aprotinin; discontinue treatment if hypersensitivity reactions are observed. Adding aprotinin to heparinised blood prolongs activated clotting time. Pregnancy and lactation.

• Interactions
  None stated.
• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Local thrombophlebitis, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pains, blood pressure changes. Allergic reactions such as erythema, urticaria and bronchospasm have occurred occasionally. Also, anaphylaxis, tachycardia, pallor or cyanosis, dyspnoea. Reddening of skin on repeated dosage.