Thromb Haemost 2009; 101(06): 1091-1094
DOI: 10.1160/TH09-01-0008
Blood Coagulation, Fibrinolysis and Cellular Haemostasis
Schattauer GmbH

Prescription of fondaparinux in hospitalised patients

Steven Baroletti
1   Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussetts, USA
,
Matthew Labreche
1   Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussetts, USA
,
Matthew Niles
2   Venous Thromboembolism Research Group, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussetts, USA
,
John Fanikos
1   Department of Pharmacy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussetts, USA
,
Samuel Z. Goldhaber
3   Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachussetts, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 06 January 2009

Accepted after minor revision: 12 February 2009

Publication Date:
24 November 2017 (online)

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Summary

Fondaparinux is an antithrombotic agent with unique properties that may offer benefit to patients beyond the current approved indications. To explore the off-label use versus approved use of fondaparinux, we initiated a single-center registry of fondaparinux use. During the 25-month study period, 219 patients were prescribed fondaparinux: 157 (71.7%) for prophylaxis and 62 (28.3%) patients for the treatment of thrombosis. When fondaparinux was used for prophylaxis in our registry, 94% of patients had documentation of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Fondaparinux warrants further evaluation in patients with HIT or suspected HIT. In the meantime, its off-label use may exceed its use for FDA-approved indications.