A dose-ranging study evaluating the oral factor Xa inhibitor edoxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty.
BACKGROUND
Edoxaban (the free base of DU-176b) is an oral, direct factor (F)Xa inhibitor in clinical development for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of edoxaban for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA).


METHODS
This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study conducted in Japan. A total of 523 Japanese patients were assigned to receive edoxaban 5, 15, 30 or 60 mg once daily or placebo for 11-14 days. A placebo control was used as neither low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) nor fondaparinux had been approved for thromboprophylaxis at the time of the study in Japan. The primary efficacy outcome was the incidence of VTE (lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis, symptomatic pulmonary embolism or symptomatic deep vein thrombosis). The primary safety outcome was the incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding.


RESULTS
Edoxaban produced a significant dose-related reduction in VTE: the incidence of VTE was 29.5%, 26.1%, 12.5% and 9.1% in the edoxaban 5-, 15-, 30- and 60-mg treatment groups vs. 48.3% in the placebo group. The incidence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding was similar across all groups without any significant differences among edoxaban doses or between edoxaban and placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Edoxaban demonstrated significant dose-dependent reductions in VTE in patients undergoing TKA with a bleeding incidence similar to placebo. [This trial is registered with JAPIC, JapicCTI-060283 (ja).].
Fuji
T
T
Osaka Koseinenkin Hospital, Osaka, Japan. fuji-th@umin.ac.jp
Fujita
S
S
Tachibana
S
S
Kawai
Y
Y
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*
D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D010919:Placebos; D011725:Pyridines; D013844:Thiazoles; D015951:Factor Xa; C552171:edoxaban