Successful use of recombinant activated factor VII in the treatment of vitreous haemorrhage: a report of seven cases.

Vitreous haemorrhage poses a serious threat to vision if untreated. Therapeutic options remain scarce and surgical intervention to resolve persistent bleeding is associated with risks that may further compromise vision. We report the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) in seven patients (six men, one woman; age, 30-65 years) with vitreous haemorrhage and severe reduction in visual acuity caused by trauma (n = 4) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (n = 3). Initial doses ranged from 60 to 140 microg/kg; most patients received maintenance therapy with 20-60 microg/kg for at least 3 days. One patient received rFVIIa treatment for only 24 h and suffered a re-bleed, controlled successfully with further rFVIIa therapy. Five patients responded well to rFVIIa treatment, with reduced symptoms and improvements in visual acuity. Late presentation several days after trauma or symptom onset may have contributed to poor outcomes in the two patients who failed to respond to rFVIIa therapy. No adverse events were observed. An initial dose of rFVIIa 60-140 microg/kg, followed by 20-60 microg/kg repeated at 8-h intervals for 3-5 days, appears to be an effective therapeutic option for vitreous haemorrhage. However, further studies of rFVIIa use in this indication are warranted.