Daily vs twice daily enoxaparin in the prevention of venous thromboembolic disorders during rehabilitation following acute spinal cord injury.
BACKGROUND
Subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin (eg, enoxaparin) has been shown to be safe and effective in the prevention of acute venous thromboembolic (TE) disease following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in the rehabilitation setting. However, emerging evidence suggests that different dosing strategies may be equivalent.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether subcutaneous enoxaparin, 40 mg once daily, when compared with subcutaneous enoxaparin, 30 mg twice daily, is equally safe and effective in the prevention of venous TE disease in patients with SCI.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review.


METHODS
A freestanding, inpatient, acute, rehabilitation hospital.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-nine patients admitted from June 2000 through June 2002 for inpatient rehabilitation following an acute SCI who received either enoxaparin, 40 mg once daily, or enoxaparin, 30 mg twice daily, for prophylaxis for TE disease.


RESULTS
Equivalent prophylaxis efficacy was seen in both enoxaparin groups. Symptomatic venous thromboembolism did not differ, with deep vein thromboses occurring in 1 of 49 (2.0%) patients receiving twice-daily enoxaparin, and 1 of 80 (1.25%) patients receiving once-daily enoxaparin (chi2 = 0.125, NS). Pulmonary embolism was seen in 1 of 49 (2.0%) patients treated with twice-daily enoxaparin and in none of the patients in the once-daily group (chi2 = 1.64, NS). Bleeding complications also did not differ between the 2 treatment groups; these were observed in 2 of 49 (4.1%) patients receiving twice-daily enoxaparin and in 5 of 80 (6.3%) patients receiving once-daily enoxaparin (chi2 = 0.228, NS).


CONCLUSIONS
Subcutaneous enoxaparin administered once or twice daily is equally effective for the prevention of venous TE disease. Both dosing strategies are associated with a low incidence of bleeding in patients with SCI who are undergoing rehabilitation.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA. shebbeler005@md.northwestern.ed
Sara L
SL
Hebbeler
Christina M
CM
Marciniak
Susan
S
Crandall
David
D
Chen
Steven
S
Nussbaum
Susan
S
Mendelewski
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D017984:Enoxaparin; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents