Effect of Colistin on Phospholipid-Based Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Clotting Assay Results in Patients Receiving Concomitant Heparin Therapy

Study Objective. To determine whether intravenous colistin therapy has an effect on the results of the phospholipid-based activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) clotting assays containing cephalin in patients receiving concomitant heparin therapy Design. Retrospective medical record review. Setting. University-affiliated teaching institution. Patients. Thirty-six patients treated with intravenous colistin for at least 48 hours between January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2010, who were receiving heparin for at least 48 hours before colistin was started, and had aPTT tests performed at least 2 clays before, during, and at least 2 days after treatment with colistin. Measurements and Main Results. Repeated-measures analysis of variance testing was performed to determine if significant differences in aPTT results before, during, and after colistin therapy existed. Of a total of 120 courses of colistin therapy, only 36 met the inclusion criteria. The mean +/- SD aPTT was 52.3 +/- 20.4 seconds before administration of colistin, 51.1 +/- 16.6 seconds during colistin therapy, and 51.3 +/- 13.6 seconds after administration of colistin (p=0.9). Heparin infusion rates were adjusted 12 times and heparin withheld twice at least 2 days before colistin therapy was started, infusion rates were changed 8 times and heparin withheld once during colistin therapy, and infusion rates were changed 10 times and heparin withheld once at least 2 clays after colistin therapy Conclusion. Colistin therapy had no significant effect on the cephalin-based aPTT testing results in patients receiving concomitant heparin therapy. Further analyses are required to confirm these findings.