November 3rd, 2014
Economic Study Finds VTE Prophylaxis with Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Cost Effective
Larry Husten, PHD
Critically ill patients in the hospital are at high risk for developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). The 2011 PROTECT trial compared the two most common drug strategies used to prevent VTE — unfractionated heparin (UFH) and dalteparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) — and found no difference between the two groups in the primary endpoint of the trial, leg deep-vein thrombosis. But […]
August 18th, 2014
Selections from Richard Lehman’s Literature Review: August 18th
Richard Lehman, BM, BCh, MRCGP
This week’s topics include the three sodium studies from NEJM, the CLARIFY study, and more.
July 7th, 2014
HEAT-PPCI: Heparin Beats Bivalirudin in Primary PCI
Larry Husten, PHD
Although there is broad consensus in the medical community that primary PCI is the best treatment for MI patients when it can be delivered promptly, there is no agreement about the best accompanying drug regimen, which usually entails a combination of antiplatelet and antithrombotic drugs. The role of one antithrombotic, bivalirudin (Angiomax, The Medicines Company) has […]
May 9th, 2013
Bruise Control: Continued Warfarin Beats Heparin Bridging During Device Implantation
Larry Husten, PHD
Many patients receiving an ICD or a pacemaker are already receiving oral anticoagulants. Current guidelines recommend replacement of the oral anticoagulant with the temporary use of heparin as a bridging strategy. Now a new study, BRUISE CONTROL (Bridge or Continue Coumadin for Device Surgery Randomized Controlled Trial), offers convincing evidence that this strategy is not […]
December 7th, 2012
Heparin Labels Will Be Revised to Reduce Dosing Miscalculations
Kristin J. Kelley, CardioExchange Staff
Heparin manufacturers will now be required to state the total drug strength of the entire container on their labels, the FDA announced on Thursday. The revisions, proposed by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) in order to avoid medication errors caused by dosing miscalculations, will take effect on May 1, 2013. The new labels for heparin lock […]
March 22nd, 2011
PROTECT Compares Unfractionated Heparin And Dalteparin In Critically Ill Patients
Larry Husten, PHD
ICU patients are at high risk to develop venous thromboembolism. Published in NEJM, PROTECT (the Prophylaxis for Thromboembolism in Critical Care Trial) compared the effects of the low-molecular-weight heparin dalteparin with unfractionated heparin (UFH) in 3746 critically ill patients. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the primary outcome of the trial. Proximal […]
August 31st, 2010
No Benefits for Low-Dose Heparin Over Standard Heparin in FUTURA/OASIS-8
Larry Husten, PHD
FUTURA (Fondaparinux Trial With Unfractionated Heparin During Revascularization in Acute Coronary Syndromes)/OASIS-8 is the first trial to compare low-dose unfractionated heparin with conventional heparin dosing in PCI patients receiving fondaparinux. Sanjit Jolly and colleagues randomized 2026 non-STEMI high-risk patients undergoing PCI within 72 hours to either low-dose unfractionated heparin or a standard dose of heparin […]
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