Anti-Blood Clotting Drug Study Provides Guidance For Reducing Vte Post-Hospital Discharge
Posted Dec 05 2011 8:46pm
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, collectively known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), are blood clot diseases that affect 300,000-600,000 Americans each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being admitted to the hospital for a medical illness puts a person at a tenfold increased risk for developing VTE. A new study out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) explores the possibility of reducing VTE in patients during and after a hospital stay using a promising investigational drug called apixaban. The study will be electronically published on Nov. 13, 2011 and will be published in the Dec. 15, 2011 print issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. It will also be presented at this year’s American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida occurring Nov. 12-16.
The ADOPT (Apixaban Dosing to Optimize Protection From Thrombosis) study compared the anti-blood clotting drugs apixaban and enoxaparin (Lovenox) in their abilities to reduce VTE and VTE-related deaths after hospital discharge in medically ill patients. The study included 6,528 participants from 302 centers in 35 countries. To be considered for the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, participants had to be hospitalized for at least three days for congestive heart failure, acute respiratory failure, or other medical conditions with VTE risk factors.
Researchers randomized participants to receive either 1) apixaban plus placebo or 2) enoxaparin plus placebo. Apixaban was given by mouth 2.5 milligrams twice a day for 30 days. Enoxaparin was given as a 40-milligram injection once a day for six to 14 days. Participants were assessed using a compression ultrasound examination at hospital discharge and on day 30 of the study.
Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, collectively known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), are blood clot diseases that affect 300,000-600,000 Americans each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being admitted to the hospital for a medical illness puts a person at a tenfold increased risk for developing VTE. A new study out of Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) explores the possibility of reducing VTE in patients during and after a hospital stay using a promising investigational drug called apixaban. The study will be electronically published on Nov. 13, 2011 and will be published in the Dec. 15, 2011 print issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. It will also be presented at this year’s American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida occurring Nov. 12-16.
The ADOPT (Apixaban Dosing to Optimize Protection From Thrombosis) study compared the anti-blood clotting drugs apixaban and enoxaparin (Lovenox) in their abilities to reduce VTE and VTE-related deaths after hospital discharge in medically ill patients. The study included 6,528 participants from 302 centers in 35 countries. To be considered for the double-blind, placebo-controlled study, participants had to be hospitalized for at least three days for congestive heart failure, acute respiratory failure, or other medical conditions with VTE risk factors.
Researchers randomized participants to receive either 1) apixaban plus placebo or 2) enoxaparin plus placebo. Apixaban was given by mouth 2.5 milligrams twice a day for 30 days. Enoxaparin was given as a 40-milligram injection once a day for six to 14 days. Participants were assessed using a compression ultrasound examination at hospital discharge and on day 30 of the study.