gms | German Medical Science

14. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelanwendungsforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie

Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie

15.11. - 16.11.2007, Frankfurt am Main

Use of Fondaparinux for long term prophylaxis in high risk patients with history of HIT (heparin-induced thrombocytopenia)

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author G. Grellmann - Bavaria Klinik, Kreischa
  • F. Oehmichen - Bavaria Klinik, Kreischa
  • M. Pohl - Bavaria Klinik, Kreischa
  • J. Hankowitz - Gesundheit + Medizin, München

Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelanwendungsforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie e.V. (GAA). 14. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelanwendungsforschung und Arzneimittelepidemiologie. Frankfurt am Main, 15.-16.11.2007. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2007. Doc07gaa22

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/gaa2007/07gaa22.shtml

Published: November 12, 2007

© 2007 Grellmann et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.


Outline

Text

Context: Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an antibody-mediated severe complication caused by heparin. Fondaparinux is a new synthetic factor Xa inhibitor (molecular weight: 1.726 Dalton) with superior efficacy-/safety-profile compared to low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and exerts in vitro no cross-reactivity with HIT-antibodies. So far, there is a lack of clinical studies where Fondaparinux is used for the management of acute HIT and in patients with history of HIT.

Aim of the study: Although Fondaparinux is not approved for the management of acute HIT syndrome, we report cases where Fondaparinux is used in-label for prevention of venous thromboembolism in high risk patients with history of HIT.

Material and method: Six patients with history of HIT receive fondaparinux 2.5 mg once daily s.c. for prevention of venous thromboembolism as long as the risk of thromboembolism persists.

Results: In six patients with a history of HIT Fondaparinux was successfully used for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in high risk patients: No HIT, venous thromboembolic events or bleedings were observed.

Conclusion: Due to its superior efficacy-/safety profile compared to LMWH Fondaparinux might be also a useful drug in the management of HIT. In patients with a history of HIT Fondaparinux seems to be effective and safe; however, controlled clinical trials are necessary to confirm our observations.