Debate

Safety of topical thrombins: the ongoing debate

Christopher Lomax

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA

author email corresponding author email

Patient Safety in Surgery 2009, 3:21doi:10.1186/1754-9493-3-21

Published:	4 September 2009

Abstract

Until recently, only bovine-derived thrombin was available for use as a stand-alone topical hemostat or as a component of other hemostatic devices. Concerns over a number of case reports of immune-mediated coagulopathies associated with the use of bovine-derived thrombin resulted in a United States Food and Drug Administration warning letter being issued in 1996 and the later addition of a boxed warning ("Black Box Warning") to all bovine-derived thrombin products. Since 2007, both a human-pooled plasma thrombin product and a recombinant thrombin have entered the market.

With the addition of these two products to the topical thrombin class, a unique situation has developed in which only a single member (bovine-derived thrombin) within the class carries the Food and Drug Administration's strongest cautionary language about possible adverse events related to an agent's use. Neither the human-pooled plasma thrombin nor the recombinant thrombin products have a boxed warning; although, the human-pooled plasma product does include a precaution/warning about infectious agent transmission - a warning common to products derived from human sources. This report will address this unique situation and the impact, clinical and non-clinical, that thrombin choice may have. Since alternatives are now available, institutions may need to revisit their formulary choice of thrombin preparation, taking into consideration the potential risks associated with bovine-derived products.