he first dose of warfarin sodium was given the evening before surgery, then continued daily at a dose adjusted for INR 2 to 3. Treatment in both groups was then continued for 5 to 9 days postoperatively. Of the 580 patients enrolled, 553 were treated and 550 underwent surgery. Of those who underwent surgery, 271 received FRAGMIN and 279 received warfarin sodium. The mean age of the study population was 63 years (range 20 to 92 years) and the majority of patients were white (91.1%) and female (52.9%). The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as determined by eva luable venography, was significantly lower for the group treated with FRAGMIN compared with patients treated with warfarin sodium (see Table 11).
Table 11
Efficacy of FRAGMIN in the Prophylaxis of Deep Vein Thrombosis
Following Hip Replacement Surgery
Indication Dosing Regimen
FRAGMIN
5000 IU once daily1 subcutaneous
n (%) Warfarin Sodium
once daily2 oral
n (%)
All Treated Hip Replacement Surgery Patients 271 279
Treatment Failures in eva luable Patients
DVT, Total 28/192 (14.6)3 49/190 (25.8)
Proximal DVT 10/192 (5.2)4 16/190 (8.4)
PE 2/271 (0.7) 2/279 (0.7)
1 The daily dose on the day of surgery was divided: 2500 IU was given two hours before surgery and again in the evening of the day of surgery.
2 Warfarin sodium dosage was adjusted to maintain a prothrombin time index of 1.4 to 1.5, corresponding to an International Normalized Ratio (INR) of approximately 2.5
3 p-value = 0.006
4 p-value = 0.185
In a second single-center, double-blind study of patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, FRAGMIN 5000 IU once daily subcutaneously starting the evening before surgery, was compared with heparin 5000 U subcutaneously three times a day, starting the morning of surgery. Treatment in both groups was continued for up to 9 days postoperatively. Of the 140 patients enrolled, 139 were treated and 136 underwent surgery. Of those who underwent surgery, 67 received FRAGMIN and 69 received heparin. The mean age of the study population was 69 years (range 42 to 87 years) and the majority of patients were female (58.8%). In the intent-to-treat analysis, the incidence of proximal DVT was significantly lower for patients treated with FRAGMIN compared with patients treated with heparin (6/67 vs 18/69; p=0.012). The incidence of pulmonary embolism detected by lung scan was also significantly lower in the group treated with FRAGMIN (9/67 vs 19/69; p=0.032).
A third multi-center, double-blind, randomized study eva luated a postoperative dosing regimen of FRAGMIN for thromboprophylaxis following total hip replacement surgery. Patients received either FRAGMIN or warfarin sodium, randomized into one of three treatment groups. One group of patients received the first dose of FRAGMIN 2500 IU subcutaneous within 2 hours before surgery, followed by another dose of FRAGMIN 2500 IU subcutaneous at least 4 hours (6.6 ± 2.3 hr) after surgery. Another group received the first dose of FRAGMIN 2500 IU subcutaneous at least 4 hours (6.6 ± 2.4 hr) after surgery. Then, both of these groups began a dosing regimen of FRAGMIN 5000 IU once daily subcutaneous on posto |
