title: Low-molecular-weight heparin in arterial reconstructive surgery: a double-blind, randomized dose-finding trial.
abstract: Periprocedural and postprocedural anticoagulation during arterial reconstructive surgery (ARS) with intravenous heparin is standard of care. The general use and correct dosage of low-molecular-weight heparin, however, are still under debate. A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was performed with a parallel group comparison of four dose regimen of a low-molecular-weight heparin, reviparin sodium, in patients undergoing major ARS. Sixty-five patients were randomly allocated to receive twice-daily subcutaneous injections of reviparin, 3500 (group A, n=17), 4200 (group B, n=16), 5950 (group C, n=16), and 7000 (group D, n=16) anti-Xa IU per day. Patients were eligible for the trial if they had angiographically proven peripheral arterial obstructive disease with a planned arterial reconstruction of the infrarenal aorta, iliaca artery, or femoralis artery. Fifty-nine patients completed the trial. The goal was to determine the optimal dose of the low-molecular-weight heparin to achieve a minimum of early vascular events (less than 12%) with a minimum of major bleeding events (less than 10%) during a short-term follow-up of up to 8 postoperative days. There was no reocclusion in the entire population. Patients randomized into the two lower dose groups (A and B), however, experienced a relatively high incidence of restenosis, whereas patients enrolled in group D, receiving the highest dose of reviparin, experienced an unacceptably high rate of bleeding events (all bleeds, 43%; major bleeding, 14.3%). Thus, the optimal dose of reviparin sodium to be administered in patients undergoing major ARS is half the therapeutic dose: 5950 to 6300 anti Xa IU (75-85 anti Xa IU/kg body weight per day). Patients included in group C had no major bleeding event (95% confidence interval, 0% to 6.6%), a significant improvement of the doppler ankle-brachial systolic pressure index (difference of 0.46 +/- 0.29, P=.017), and a higher rate of responders with regard to the puls status measured at the tibialis posterior arteries (66.7%) compared to groups A and B (46.7% and 54.5%, respectively, P=.086). The efficacy and safety of this dosage regimen in comparison to standard of care should be further substantiated in larger trials.
authors.affiliation: Medical University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kujath
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eckmann
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Misselwitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; C094240:reviparin