title: Effect of Subcutaneous Unfractionated Heparin Prophylaxis on Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time: A Retrospective Evaluation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characterize the incidence of elevated aPTT results in patients treated with prophylactic, subcutaneous unfractionated heparin (UFH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, cohort analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center, university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation of 257 patients with activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) testing both prior to and following subcutaneous (SC) unfractionated heparin (UFH) therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evaluated patients received UFH 5000 units every 8 hours. Baseline aPTT values were within the normal range (mean±SD, 32.0±8.5 seconds). After initiation of UFH, aPTT values increased (mean±SD, 37.6±15.2 seconds). After 24 hours of SC UFH, mean aPTT values (mean±SD, 38.6±15.5) exceeded the normal laboratory range (23.3-35.7 seconds). An elevated aPTT result after UFH was associated with baseline aPTT, length of therapy, and weight-based UFH dose. A significant association was not identified between aPTT elevation and age, race, sex, history of liver disease, type of admission, or transfusion of blood products.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with UFH resulted in a small, but significant, increase in aPTT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina, 150 Ashley Avenue, MSC 584, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Molly H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 167 Ashley Avenue, Suite 301, MSC 912, Charleston, SC, 29425-9120, USA. Electronic address: wilsosh@musc.edu.
authors.forename: Sylvia H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina, 150 Ashley Avenue, MSC 584, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Brittany L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina, 150 Ashley Avenue, MSC 584, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Cameron L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina, 150 Ashley Avenue, MSC 584, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Genevieve L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Medical University of South Carolina, 150 Ashley Avenue, MSC 584, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Brian P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: McKinzie
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Cannon St, Suite 303, MSC 835, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
authors.forename: Bethany J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, 167 Ashley Avenue, Suite 301, MSC 912, Charleston, SC, 29425-9120, USA.
authors.forename: Larry C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin
keywords: Activated partial thromboplastin time; Unfractionated heparin; Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis