BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) with clopidogrel and aspirin has been shown to confer greater protection against early neurological deterioration (END) and early recurrent ischemic stroke (ERIS) than aspirin alone in patients who have experienced an acute ischemic stroke. However, few studies have compared the effects of anticoagulation therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), DAT, and aspirin. METHODS: Patients with acute ischemic stroke (n=1,467) were randomized to therapy groups receiving aspirin (200 mg daily for 14 days, followed by 100 mg daily for 6 months), DAT (200 mg of aspirin and 75 mg of clopidogrel daily for 14 days, then 100 mg of aspirin daily for 6 months), or LMWH (4,000 antifactor Xa IU of enoxaparin in 0.4 mL subcutaneously twice daily for 14 days, followed by 100 mg of aspirin daily for 6 months). The effects of these treatment strategies on the incidence of END, ERIS, and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) were observed for 10-14 days after treatment, and their impacts on a good outcome were evaluated at 6 months. RESULTS: The DAT and LMWH were associated with a more significant reduction of END and ERIS within 14 days compared with aspirin-alone therapy. In addition, LMWH was associated with a significantly lower incidence of DVT within 14 days. At 6 months, DAT or LMWH improved the outcome among patients aged >70 years and those with symptomatic stenosis in the posterior circulation or basilar artery compared with aspirin. CONCLUSIONS: LMWH or DAT may be more effective than aspirin alone for reducing the incidence of END and ERIS within 14 days, and is associated with improved outcomes in elderly patients and those with stenosis in the posterior circulation or basilar artery at 6 months poststroke.
Aged ; Aspirin* ; Basilar Artery ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Enoxaparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Stroke* ; Venous Thrombosis

PURPOSE: Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is safe and effective in the treatment of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and venous thromboembolism. Compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH), it is known to have less bleeding tendency in the general population. However, it is not certain whether bleeding complications are decreased by LMWH in patients with renal failure. We postulated that the use of LMWH may lead to increase in bleeding tendency in patients with renal dysfunction. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in 486 hospitalized patients who were diagnosed as cerebral infarction or ACS, and treated with enoxaparin or nadroparin from January 2008 to December 2009. Bleeding complications were compared in 3 groups according to estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR> or =60, 30-59, and <30 mL/min/1.73m2). Age, hypertension (HTN), diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking and usage of antithrombotics were examined and the relationship of these variables with bleeding tendency was analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with group I, the frequency of total bleeding complications increased in patients with group II (p=0.002) and III (p=0.005) regardless of adequate dose reduction. Multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment for age, HTN, DM, and usage of antithrombotics revealed that decreased GFR groups [odds ratio (OR) of group II was 5.79 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23-29.97; p=0.042), OR of group III 5.92 (95% CI, 1.22-27.61; p=0.029)] and DM [OR of DM 7.88 (95% CI; 1.46-46.32, p=0.026)] were two independent factors which affect major bleeding. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that renal insufficiency, even if it is mild, could affect major bleeding complications in the use of LMWH.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Cerebral Infarction ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Enoxaparin ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Nadroparin ; Renal Insufficiency ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Venous Thromboembolism

Retroperitoneal Hematoma is a rare intraabdominal bleeding occurring in patients with low- molecular weight heparin anti-coagulant therapy. We report a case of dalteparin sodium-associated retroperitoneal hematoma in a 70-year-old man with diabetic nephropathy with review of this condition in the literature. He had been suffered from type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension for 15 years. In July 2002, he was admitted to our hospital because of unstble angina and left pleural effusion. He was treated with dalteparin sodium and aspirin for unstable angina. On the second hospital day, he was refered to division of nephrology for diabetic nephropathy. Laboratory data on admission included white blood cell count of 4,500/mm3, hemoglobin 9.6 g/dL, platelet count 294,000/mm3, BUN 58.1 mg/dL, serum creatinine 4.1 mg/dL, blood glucose 178 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c 5.9%, PT 13.9 sec (INR: 1.09), and aPTT 50 sec. On days 6 through 8, he had lower back pain, lower extremity pain and neuropathy, anemia and hypotension. Abdominal ultrasound showed 6 x 6 cm-sized well marginated mixed echogenic lesion in psoas muscle and fluid collection in retroperitoneal cavity. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed increased signal intensity and thickening of the right psoas muscle including 4.7 x 2.3 x 2.1 cm-sized cytic lesion and 6.2X5.3X3.7 cm-sized cystic lesion on the lateral portion of right psoas muscle in T2-weighted images. Percutaneous drainage of cystic lesion was performed by right lateral approach. Hemodialysis was begun without heparinization. Abdominal CT showed 5.5X5 cm-sized high attenuated lesion in right psoas muscle and 5X3 cm, 3X2 cm, 4.5 x 2.5 cm, 4 x 2.5 cm-sized heterogenous, slightly high attenuated lesions in the right lower abdomen and cul-de-sac in the scans with no enhancement. He was treated by conservative therapy. He recovered gradually. Patients with kidney diseases receiving low molecular weight heparin (dalteparin, enoxaparin, etc.) should be closely monitored to prevent serious bleeding complications. The possibility of retroperitoneal hematoma should be considered, whenever symptoms including lower back pain, inguinal pain, leg pain, anemia, or hypotension occured during the lower molecular weight heparin anticoagulant therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of retroperitoneal hematoma in a patient during dalteparin sodium (Fragmin(R)) anticoagulant therapy.
Abdomen ; Aged ; Anemia ; Angina, Unstable ; Aspirin ; Blood Glucose ; Creatinine ; Dalteparin* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies* ; Drainage ; Enoxaparin ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypotension ; Kidney Diseases ; Leg ; Leukocyte Count ; Low Back Pain ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Molecular Weight ; Nephrology ; Platelet Count ; Pleural Effusion ; Psoas Muscles ; Renal Dialysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

The incidence of symptomatic thrombosis of umbilical arterial catheterization is 1-3%. Therapeutic options may include: using heparin or low molecular weight heparin, using a thrombolytic agent, or surgical thrombectomy. However, there are insufficient data to recommend any one treatment over the others. Recently, enoxaparin, a low molecular weight heparin, has emerged as a drug of choice for the treatment of neonatal thrombosis due to pharmacologic stability over unfractionated heparin or thrombolytic agents. We report a case of successful treatment of aortic thrombosis after umbilical arterial catheterization with enoxaparin in preterm infants.
Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Enoxaparin* ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis* ; Umbilical Cord*

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) has been considered superior to unfractionated heparin in several facets such as more effective anticoagulant, more predictable bioavailability, and less bleeding complications. We report two cases of LMWH, enoxaparin-induced spontaneous intramuscular hematoma with compartment syndrome of the lower extremity in patients with cardiac problems. The patients were treated with enoxaparin (LMWH) as bridging anticoagulation before use of warfarin due to cardiac problems. At the average 3 days of enoxaparin treatment, large and painful swelling was noticed in the lower extremities without intramuscular injection or trauma. The patients were diagnosed as having compartment syndrome with large intramuscular hematoma by CT. The patients underwent immediate fasciotomy and hematoma evacuation, and recovered without any complications.
Biological Availability ; Compartment Syndromes* ; Enoxaparin ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Lower Extremity ; Warfarin

Enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin, is widely used to prevent and treat thromboembolic diseases due to its improved pharmacodynamic properties and better safety profile than unfractionated heparins. Although the most common complication is bleeding, enoxaprin has also been implicated in skin manifestations such as urticaria, bruising, angioedema and skin necrosis. Rarely, cases have been reported of eczema-like plaques caused by delayed hypersensitivity after administration of enoxaparin injections. However, there is no report to describe delayed hypersensitivity to enoxaparin in Korean literature. We present herein a case of delayed hypersensitivity to enoxaparin, which is very rare case but needs the attention of special departments such as dermatologists as well as internalists and phlebologists.
Angioedema ; Enoxaparin* ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed* ; Necrosis ; Skin ; Skin Manifestations ; Urticaria ; Venous Thrombosis*

Although heparin has over the years proven to be a reliable anticoagulant, there are still several undesirable side effects including dyslipidemia. Several recent publications have suggested that a low-molecular-weight heparin(LMWH) is superior to conventional heparin because it causes less side effects and has beneficial effects on lipid parameters. But the results of the study about lipid parameters are controversial. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy, safetey and effect of LMWH on lipid parameters as an anticoagulant in hemodialysis therapy. 2500 a x a IU of LMWH(Fragmin ) were given to 51 maintenance hemodialysis patients (age:49.9+/-16.1, M:F=33:18) just before each dialysis for consecutive 12 hemodialysis. And 16 patients out of 51 patients were given for 6 months to compare the changes of lipid parameters with those in 22 patients with conventional heparin. The mean venous compression time and the degree of clot deposition in dialyzer were similar in both LMWH and conventional heparin group. The heparin concentration via anti-factor Xa-specific clotting method (Heptest ) in both groups was similar(0.64+/-0.24 vs 0.54+/-0.18IU/ml at 15 min, 0.32+/-0.13 vs. 0.26+/-0.24 IU/ml at 4 hours after starting hemodialysis). The hematologic parameters such as hemoglobin and platelet count level did not show any differences between the two types of heparin. The level of triglyceride was significantly decreased after 6 month by the LMWH therapy(177.6+/-60.9 vs 145.9+/-85.5mg/dl, P<0.05) but was not changed by the conventional heparin therapy(150.6+/-54.6 vs. 176.6+/-64.6, P=0.16). The level of HDL were significantly changed in both group(32.1+/-11.6 vs. 37.9+/-9.7mg/dl, P<0.05 in LMWH group , 40.4+/-11.9 vs. 33.7+/-7.8mg/dl, P<0.05 in conventional heparin group). The levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were decreased in LMWH group but statistically insignificant. We conclude that LMWH is a suitable alternative to unfractionated conventional heparin for anticoagulation therapy and has beneficial effects on the lipoprotein profile in hemodialysis patients.
Cholesterol ; Dalteparin ; Dialysis ; Dyslipidemias ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Platelet Count ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis* ; Triglycerides

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the clinical utility of TpP in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and changes in the level of TpP and fibrin(ogen) degradation products after low-molecular weight heparin(LMWH) therapy. METHODS: TpP concentration was measured in 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI), 21 patients with unstable angina(UA), and 9 patients with non-cardiac chest pain and 18 healthy controls. Among them, in 11 patients treated with LMWH(6 patients with deltaparin & 5 patients with enoxaparin), the levels of TpP(American Biogenetic Sciences) and Fibrinostika(R) total degradation product(TDP), fibrinogen degradation product(FgDP) and fibrin degradation product(FbDP, Organon Teknica) was measured from plasma before treatment and at 3, 12, 15 and 24 hours after treatment. RESULTS: TpP was significantly increased in AMI(19.3+/-11.0(microgram/mL) and UA patients(16.8+/-12.4(microgram/mL) compared with the patients with non-cardiac chest pain(7.1+/-5.6(microgram/mL) and healthy controls(2.6+/-1.6(microgram/mL)(P=0.040). The TpP levels was increased in 91.7%(11/12) of AMI patients, 71.4%(15/21) of UA patients and 33.3%(3/9) of the patients with non-cardiac chest pain. TpP was decreased more significantly in enoxaparin treated group than in deltaparin group(P=0.011). No significantly different changes of plasma TDP/FgDP/FbDP levels between enoxaparin and deltaparin treatment. CONCLUSION: TpP, the precursor of thrombus, appears to be a useful index of intravascular thrombotic process. In the treatment with LMWH, enoxaparin reduced TpP more markedly than deltaparin, which may be suggestive of different anti-thrombotic effect of LMWHs on thrombotic process.
Acute Coronary Syndrome* ; Chest Pain ; Diagnosis* ; Enoxaparin ; Fibrin ; Fibrinogen ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Plasma ; Thorax ; Thrombosis

Low molecular weight heparin has greater advantages over unfractionated heparin. It is more bioavailable, and laboratory monitoring is not necessary. Compared with unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin does not result in increased risk of major bleeding. However, the bleeding tendency is not predictable in patients with renal failure, because elimination of low molecular weight heparin is delayed and it does not alter prothrombin times or partial thromboplastin times. Recently, we experienced two cases of enoxaparin-associated retroperitoneal hematoma in chronic dialysis patients. A 57- year-old woman developed retroperitoneal bleeding, during treatment with enoxaparin(1 mg/kg q 12 hours) and oral aspirin. The other patient, a 49- year-old man developed retroperitoneal hematoma after discontinuation of enoxaparin and aspirin. Both patients had inguinal pain, femoral neuropathy, anemia and hypotension. They recovered gradually and their hematoma size were decreased by conservative treatment. These results suggest that anti-Xa acivity monitoring may be warranted in renal insufficiency patients who are receiving low molecular weight heparin If anti-Xa activity test is not available, unfractionated heparin could be used with monitoring of activated partial thromboplastin time. And the possibility of retroperitoneal hematoma should be considered, whenever the acute symptoms including inguinal pain, leg pain, anemia, or hypotension occured during the anticoagulation therapy.
Anemia ; Aspirin ; Dialysis* ; Enoxaparin ; Female ; Femoral Neuropathy ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leg ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Prothrombin Time ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thromboplastin

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the efficacy for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and adverse effects of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in order to launch a prospective clinical trial in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 108 consecutive patients who underwent gastric cancer surgery. These patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of thromboprophylaxis: group A, LMWH combined with intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC); group B, IPC alone. The postoperative outcomes of the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Symptomatic VTE was observed in only 1 patient (0.9%) from group B. Postoperative bleeding was more common in group A than in group B (10.9% vs. 7.5%), although the difference was not significant (P = 0.055). Most bleeding episodes were minor and managed conservatively without intervention. Only a high body mass index was associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative bleeding (odds ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-2.43; P = 0.051). CONCLUSION: A 40 mg of enoxaparin sodium is a safe and feasible dose for prevention of VTE. With the results of this study, we are planning a prospective randomized clinical trial to investigate the clinical efficacy of LMWH thromboprophylaxis in gastric cancer patients in Korea.
Body Mass Index ; Enoxaparin ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin* ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Prospective Studies ; Sodium ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Thromboembolism ; Venous Thromboembolism