A Low Rivaroxaban Plasma Level May Indicate Anticoagulation Undertreatment

Authors

• Simone Lorenzo Romano Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa
• Paolo Chiarugi Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
• Monica Casini Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
• Giovanni Pellegrini Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
• Lucia Ruocco Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

simone.lorenzo.romano@gmail.com

Keywords

Abstract

Few reports have been published on the correlation between plasma concentrations of rivaroxaban and clinical outcome in patients who have experienced venous thromboembolism. This article describes the case of a 44-year-old woman who experienced deep vein thrombosis during anticoagulation therapy with rivaroxaban, with evidence of repeated low plasma levels of the drug. We postulate that the determination of plasma rivaroxaban anti-Xa activity can be useful in the evaluation of anticoagulation therapy in selected cases.