ABSTRACT
Prothrombinase-induced clotting time (PiCT) determines the anticoagulant effects of
heparins, low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), and direct thrombin inhibitors. At
present, this is the only method that measures the effects of all of these inhibitors,
in contrast to the prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT),
Heptest, ecarin clotting time, and the chromogenic assays. The antithrombin-dependent
direct factor (F) Xa inhibitors fondaparinux and idraparinux were compared with the
LMWH dalteparin on PiCT, aPTT, Heptest, and chromogenic anti-FXa assays in pooled
human normal plasma samples. Fondaparinux and idraparinux prolonged the coagulation
times in the PiCT, Heptest, and chromogenic FXa assays in a dose-dependent manner,
in contrast to the aPTT. We conclude that PiCT is a suitable assay to determine the
anticoagulant effects of these two new FXa inhibitors in patients receiving treatment
with these compounds.
KEYWORDS
Prothrombinase-induced clotting time - fondaparinux - idraparinux - hirudin - argatroban
- and melagatran
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Prof. Dr. med. J Harenberg
IV, Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim
Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer, D-68167 Mannheim, Germany
Email: job.harenberg@med.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
