Current enoxaparin dosing guidelines have dubious credibility.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prescribing practice of enoxaparin in comparison to dosing guidelines.


METHODS
A prospective observational chart review of patients who received enoxaparin for the treatment of thrombosis at Dunedin Public Hospital between August 2007 and January 2008. Deviations in dose from guidelines were defined and recorded along with various clinical and demographic data of participants.


RESULTS
Fifty-nine patients (62 admissions) were recruited. Dose deviations occurred on 19 (30.7%) occasions. More dose deviations occurred at or close to guideline transition points (total body weight over 90 kg and/or creatinine clearance between 20-40 mL/min).


CONCLUSIONS
Current enoxaparin dosing guidelines are too simplistic and result in discord between dosing in practice and that approved by Medsafe.
Al-Sallami
Hesham
H
School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. hesham.al-sallami@otago.ac.nz
Jordan
Sarah
S
Ferguson
Ruth
R
Medlicott
Natalie
N
Schollum
John
J
Duffull
Stephen
S
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D017984:Enoxaparin