Tissue factor pathway inhibitor antigen and activity in 96 patients receiving heparin for cardiopulmonary bypass

Objective: To identify patients with poor tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) response to heparin and observe any association with increased risk of excessive coagulation activation, morbidity, or mortality. Design: Prospective, observational cohort study. Setting: University hospital. Participants: Patients (n = 96) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for various types of surgery. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: TFPI antigen and activity were determined in patients before and after heparin administration, before cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery. The clinical progress of each patient was recorded. Median levels of TFPI activity were 0.98 U/mL (interquartile range, 0.83 to 1.14 U/mL) preheparin and 2.34 U/mL (2.18 to 2.54 U/mL) postheparin (p < 0.0001), representing a median 2.3-(2.1- to 2.8-) fold increase. Median TFPI antigen levels were 92.4 ng/mL (73.0 to 119.5 ng/mL) preheparin and 422.9 ng/mL (398.7 to 501.6 ng/mL) postheparin (p < 0.0001), representing a median 4.6-fold (3.6- to 6.2-fold) increase. Two patients had low (