title: An international multicentre study: Clivarin in the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing general surgery. Report of the International Clivarin Assessment Group.
abstract: A randomized multicentre double-blind study was organized to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of Clivarin (reviparin-sodium) (anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratio: 3-5 International units) for the prevention of post-operative thromboembolism in patients undergoing general surgery. 1,351 patients were randomly allocated to receive subcutaneously either 5,000 U of unfractionated heparin (UFH) twice a day or 1,750 anti-Xa IU of reviparin-sodium once a day (morning) followed by a placebo injection (evening) for at least 6 days. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was detected with the 125I-fibrinogen technique confirmed by phlebography if necessary. After randomization thrombotic risk factors were equally distributed in each group. More than 50% of the patients had a cancer. The incidence of DVT and of pulmonary embolism was 4.8% (CI 95%: 3.3-6.7%) in the reviparin-sodium group and 4.4% (CI 95%: 2.9-6.2%) in the UFH group, a non-significant difference. The number of transfusions required was equivalent in the two groups. However, post-operative bleeding complications, including wound haematomas and internal bleeding, were less frequent in the reviparin-sodium group (P < 0.01). Therefore, for the first time, this study demonstrates that an unusual low dose of a low molecular weight heparin retains its antithrombotic efficacy by comparison with UFH and that the tolerance of this low dose is better.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Hémostase, C.H.R. Toulouse, Hopital Purpan, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boneu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; C094240:reviparin