Low-molecular weight heparin enoxaparin in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes without ST segment elevation.

OBJECTIVES: We compared the incidence of adverse cardiac outcomes of enoxaparin vs unfractionated heparin in the management of ACS-NSTE.

BACKGROUND: Low-molecular-weight heparins are the potential new standard in the treatment of acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation (ACS-NSTE). The benefit is addressed to significant diminution of the adverse clinical events--recurrent angina (RA), myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), cerebrovascular insult (ICV), coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and death.

METHODS: Sixty patients with ACS-NSTE were randomised to receive Enoxaparin 1 mg/kg body weight s.c twice daily (n=30) and unfractionated heparin (Heparin - "Biochemie" 25.000 IU/5 ml), according to Rashke nomogram (n=30). The end point were RA, MI, HF, ICV, CABG, PCI and death at day 180. The Kaplan-Meier estimation technique was used to compared the time to events for two treatments. A p<0.05 was considered to indicate significance.

RESULTS: For 180 days, RA, MI, HF, ICV and death were lower in the Enoxaparin vs UFH group (36.6% vs 73.3%, p=0.001), (30% vs 53.3%, p=0.05), (13.3% vs 23.3%, p=0.31), (3.3% vs 10%, p=0.29), (3.3% vs 10%, p=0.31), respectively. CABG were similar 13.3% (p=0.96). PCI were performing in 33.3% in UFH vs 90% in LMWH (p=0.0001).

CONCLUSION: The use of Enoxaparin in ACS-NSTE schows impressive decrease of incidence of ischemic events (Fig. 7, Ref. 8). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.