title: Use of the activated partial thromboplastin time for heparin monitoring.
abstract: The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the relationship between heparin concentration and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) results, define a heparin concentration-derived therapeutic range for each aPTT instrument, compare aPTT- and heparin concentration-guided dosage adjustment decisions, and compare laboratory- and bedside aPTT-guided decisions. In phase 1, 102 blood samples were analyzed for bedside and laboratory aPTTs and heparin concentration (used to establish aPTT therapeutic range). In phase 2, 100 samples were analyzed in the same manner. Correlations for aPTT compared with heparin ranged from 0.36 to 0.82. Dosage adjustment decisions guided by the aPTT agreed with those based on heparin concentration 63% to 80% of the time. Laboratory and bedside aPTT dosage adjustment decisions agreed 59% to 68% of the time. The correlation of aPTT with heparin concentration and agreement between aPTT- and heparin-guided decisions vary with the aPTT instrument. Decisions guided by laboratory aPTT results often disagree with decisions guided by bedside aPTT results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Services, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Koerber
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Westley
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Begle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balasubramaniam
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mattson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin