Fixed-dose, Body Weight-independent Subcutaneous LMW Heparin versus Adjusted Dose Unfractionated Intravenous Heparin in the Initial Treatment of Proximal Venous Thrombosis

J. Harenberg; J. A. Schmidt; K. Koppenhagen; A. Tolle; M. V. Huisman; H. R. Büller; the EASTERN Investigators

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1613886

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2000; 83(05): 652-656
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1613886

Review Article

Schattauer GmbH

Fixed-dose, Body Weight-independent Subcutaneous LMW Heparin versus Adjusted Dose Unfractionated Intravenous Heparin in the Initial Treatment of Proximal Venous Thrombosis

J. Harenberg

¹From the Dept. of Medicine, University Hospital, Mannheim, Germany

,

J. A. Schmidt

²Dept. of Angiology, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany

,

K. Koppenhagen

³Dept. of Radiology, Benjamin Franklin University, Berlin, Germany

,

A. Tolle

⁴Novartis Pharma GmbH, Nuremberg, Germany

,

M. V. Huisman

⁵Dept. of General Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Leiden, Netherlands

,

H. R. Büller

⁶Dept. of Vascular Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands

,

the EASTERN Investigators

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Background

Body weight-adjusted subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has been proven to be at least as effective and safe as dose-adjusted intravenous unfractionated heparin (UFH) for the treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism. However, body weight-adjusted dosage of low-molecular-weight heparin may be cumbersome and could lead possibly to incorrect dosing. Therefore a fixed LMWH dose, independent of body-weight, might rationalize initial treatment for venous thromboembolism.

Methods

Patients with proven proximal deep-vein thrombosis were randomly assigned to fixed dose subcutaneous LMWH Certoparin (8,000 anti-factor Xa U b.i.d.; 265 patients) or to adjusted dose i.v. UFH (273 patients) for 12 days. Vitamin K antagonists were started between day 3 and 7 and continued for up to 6 months. The primary outcome measure was a 30 percent or greater improvement in the Marder Score, as revealed by repeated venography on day 12 (end of the initial treatment). The secondary composite outcome measure included death, recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding and was assessed at day 12 and after 6 months by a blinded adjunction committee.

Results

The Marder score improved by 30% or more in 30.3% and 25.0% of patients assigned to LMWH (198 paired venograms) and UFH (192 paired venograms), respectively (2p = 0.26). At the end of the initial treatment, the composite outcome was observed in 4 of the 265 patients (1.5%) randomized to LMWH, as compared with 14 of the 273 patients (5.1%) randomized to UFH (2p = 0.03). At 6 months these figures were 6.8% and 12.8%, respectively (risk reduction 0.53, confidence interval 0.31-0.90, 2p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Fixed dose subcutaneous LMWH certoparin is at least as efficacious as UFH in resolving proximal vein thrombosis. With respect to the composite outcome of death, recurrent venous thromboembolism and major bleeding LMWH treatment performed significantly better both during initial therapy and at a six-month follow-up.

Keywords

Venous thromboembolism - treatment - composite outcome - LMW heparin - fixed-dose body weight-independent heparin regimen

Full Text

References

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