Clinical therapeutics
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Clinical therapeutics · Apr 2009
Review Comparative StudyA safety review of topical bovine thrombin-induced generation of antibodies to bovine proteins.
Topical bovine thrombin has been used to accelerate attainment of hemostasis in the surgical setting for >60 years, and its immunogenicity has been widely reported. Although the development of antibodies is inherent in the introduction of any non-self-therapeutic protein such as bovine-sourced thrombin, there are questions about the relationship between the presence of antibodies to constituents of the therapeutic protein preparation and the occurrence of clinically relevant adverse events (AEs). ⋯ Repeated perioperative exposure to topical bovine thrombin may increase both the prevalence and titers of antibodies to >or=1 protein contained in nonhomogeneous topical bovine thrombin preparations. However, the evidence reviewed does not support a definitive association between preoperative or postoperative generation of anti-bovine protein antibodies and an increased risk of AEs in surgical patients treated with topical bovine thrombin.