title: Is the monitoring of anti-Xa activity necessary in pregnant women undergoing thromboprophylaxis?
abstract: Thromboprophylaxis is increasingly advocated in pregnancy for certain clinical conditions. Low molecular weight heparins offer potential benefit over unfractionated heparins with increased bioavailability and a longer half-life, thus allowing for once daily administration. This study aims to determine if monitoring of anti-Xa activity is necessary in pregnant women undergoing thromboprophylaxis. Twenty-five pregnancies were prospectively followed where either tinzaparin or enoxparin was employed for thromboprophylaxis. Once the anti-Xa levels were in the thromboprophylactic range (0.03-0.5 U/ml) no patient required a change of dose. Frequent monitoring of Anti-Xa levels, once in the thromboprophylactic range, may not be required.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Obstetrics and Haematology, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. moconnell@coombe.ie
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: MacKeogh
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Declan P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Keane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight