Influences of sex and smoking habits on anticoagulant activity in low-molecular-weight heparin treatment of unstable coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
In the FRISC trial, dalteparin 120 IU/kg body weight twice daily for unstable coronary artery disease was safe and reduced the risk of new coronary events. This risk reduction was maintained during the following extended treatment with a fixed dose of 7500 IU dalteparin once daily.


RESULTS
Minor bleeding was more frequent in women compared with men: relative risk (CI) 2.88 (1.78 to 4.67) during the weight-adjusted and 2.36 (1.37 to 2.63) during the fixed dose treatment. The anti-Xa activity determined in samples (n = 175) obtained during the acute phase treatment was higher in women compared with men (P <.001) and in nonsmokers compared with smokers (<.001) in multiple regression analysis. Also, during the fixed-dose treatment (n = 131) an independent relation between anti-Xa activity and sex (P <.001), but not smoking habits, persisted.


CONCLUSIONS
To improve future low-molecular-weight heparin dose regimens for the treatment of acute coronary syndromes, it might be important to consider the influence of sex and smoking habits.
Toss
H
H
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
Wallentin
L
L
Siegbahn
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D017985:Dalteparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000925:Anticoagulants; D017985:Dalteparin