Prothrombin complex concentrate

R. T. DeWitt and D. I. Feinstein

A hemophilliac with a factor VIII inhibitor was bleeding massively from an extensive surgical wound. After ten days of unsuccessful management by conservative measures, he was given a single infusion of prothrombin complex concentrate (Konyne). Bleeding stopped immediately and the wound healed without further recurrence of bleeding. Although the activated partial thromboplastin time shortened following the infusion, the exact physiologic mechanism whereby these concentrates bypass the need for factor VIII clotting activity is unknown.