An analysis of clinical outcomes of 91 pregnancies in 83 women treated with danaparoid (Orgaran).

UNLABELLED: Danaparoid case reports of 91 pregnancies in 83 patients with a history of thrombophilia and/or intra-uterine growth retardation have been analysed. All had intolerance to the heparins including HIT and acute or past thromboses or a history of repeated pregnancy loss (RPL). Danaparoid was started in the first, second and third trimesters in 60.2%, 19.3% and 20.5% pregnancies respectively at a dosing intensity of 1000 to 7500 U/day. Subcutaneous and/or intravenous administration was continued for a median 105 days (range 1-252) during pregnancy and 7 days (range 2 to 56) post-partum. The live birth rate was 90.4% (75/81) and danaparoid was restarted after 37 deliveries. Maternal adverse events in 46.2% of the pregnancies included 2 post cesarean deaths (a failed post-operative resuscitation and a major bleed in a patient refusing transfusion), 3 non-fatal major bleeds (associated with cesarean section and faulty placental implantation), 3 thrombo-embolic events unresponsive to danaparoid dose increase and 10 recurrent rashes. Seven early miscarriages, 1 therapeutic termination and 1 neonatal death occurred. In 13 reports a maternal, but no fetal, adverse event was attributed to danaparoid. Anti-Xa activity levels in maternal plasma were between 0.1 and 1.2 U/mL, absent from 6 fetal cord blood samples and 0 - 0.07 U/mL in the 5 maternal breast milk samples tested. CONCLUSION: The successful birth rate and adverse event profile indicates that danaparoid can be an effective and safe alternative anti-thrombotic in pregnancies complicated by HIT or intolerance or resistance to (LMW)heparins.

A review of 122 published outcomes of danaparoid anticoagulation for intermittent haemodialysis.

UNLABELLED: One hundred and twenty-two case reports of treatment outcomes of danaparoid use for intermittent haemodialysis (HD) in severely ill patients with heparin intolerance (including 97 HIT patients) have been analysed. HD sessions of 4 - 6 hours were successfully conducted daily to 3 times/week for periods of up to 4 years (median 7 sessions/patient (range 1 - >650). In these patients danaparoid use was relatively safe (4 unprovoked non-fatal major bleeds) and efficacious in protecting the circuit (95% no clotting problem) or patient (6 thromboses: 4 fatal or leading to danaparoid discontinuation). HIT diagnosis was improved if recurrent platelet count reduction with each HD and circuit/AV graft clotting were included. Alternative reasons for and very low nadirs of the platelet count undermined the usefulness of the 4 T pre-test HIT predictability scores, but a positive functional serological test confirmed HIT in most patients. Deaths (15.6%) and thrombosis only occurred in HIT cases. Possible reasons are discussed. Replacing the standard intermittent pre-HD dose regimen with the therapeutic infusion regimen to provide continuous daily systemic antithrombotic protection, should further improve efficacy. CONCLUSION: Danaparoid appears to be a useful alternative antithrombotic for patients with heparin intolerance and renal failure requiring haemodialysis.

[Danaparoid in pregnancy in cases of heparin intolerance - use in 59 cases]. / Danaparoid in der Schwangerschaft bei Heparinunverträglichkeit - Einsatz in 59 Fällen.

UNLABELLED: During the use of fractionated or unfractionated heparin adverse events frequently occur that can endanger the continuation of therapy. Especially in pregnant patients with thromboembolic complications it may be difficult to find a suitable alternative anticoagulant when heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II (HIT II) or allergic skin reactions occur. There are still limited data on the use of danaparoid in pregnancy. The main reason for heparin intolerance in the 59 reviewed pregnancies were either HIT II, described in 37/59 (62.7%) pregnancies, or cutaneous adverse effects in 19/22 (86.4%) of non-HIT-associated pregnancies (22/59, 37.3%). RESULTS: 40/59 pregnancies were carried to term under use of danaparoid and resulted in the delivery of a healthy infant. In 16/19 pregnancies, danaparoid was stopped due to a major adverse event. Five patients showed bleeding complications, seven fetal losses were documented, but there was no association with the use of danaparoid. In 31/59 (52.5%) pregnancies adverse events were documented, 14/31 (45.2%) could be attributed to danaparoid. Anti-Xa-activity was not detected in five fetal cord blood samples and in four maternal breast-milk samples. CONCLUSION: Danaparoid can be used as an alternative anticoagulant in pregnant women with high risk for thrombosis and heparin intolerance.

Prospective randomised open-label comparison of danaparoid with dextran 70 in the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia with thrombosis: a clinical outcome study.

AIM: To compare clinical outcomes in a randomised comparison of treatment with danaparoid sodium (a heparinoid), or dextran 70, for heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT) plus thrombosis. METHODS: Forty-two patients with recent thrombosis and a clinical diagnosis of probable HIT who presented at ten Australian hospitals during a study period of six and one half years were randomly assigned to open-label treatment with intravenous danaparoid or dextran 70, each combined with oral warfarin. Thirty-four patients (83%) had a positive platelet aggregation or 14C-serotonin release test for HIT antibody. Twenty-five received danaparoid as a bolus injection of 2400 anti-Xa units followed by 400 units per hour for 2 h, 300 units per hour for 2 h, and then 200 units per hour for five days. Seventeen received 1000 mL dextran 70 on day one and then 500 mL on days 2-5. Patients were reviewed daily for clinical evidence of thrombus progression or resolution, fresh thrombosis or embolism, bleeding or other complications. The primary trial endpoint was the proportion of thromboembolic events with complete clinical resolution by the time of discharge from hospital. RESULTS: With danaparoid, there was complete clinical recovery from 56% of thromboembolic events compared to 14% after dextran 70 (Odds Ratio 10.53, 95% Confidence Interval 1.6-71.4; p = 0.02). Clinical recovery with danaparoid was complete or partial in 86% of thromboembolic events compared with 53% after dextran 70 (Odds Ratio 4.55, 95% Confidence Interval 1.2-16.7; p = 0.03). Overall clinical effectiveness of danaparoid was rated as high or moderate in 88% of patients compared with 47% for dextran 70 (p = 0.01). One patient given danaparoid died of thrombosis compared with three patients given dextran 70. The platelet count returned to normal after a mean of 6.7 days with danaparoid and 7.3 days with dextran 70. There was no major bleeding with either treatment. CONCLUSION: danaparoid plus warfarin treatment for HIT with thrombosis is effective, safe, and superior to dextran 70 plus warfarin.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in paediatric patients--a review of the literature and a new case treated with danaparoid sodium.

UNLABELLED: The immunological form of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially life-threatening adverse reaction of heparin medication. It is mediated by multimolecular complexes consisting of platelet factor 4 (PF4)-heparin-IgG which bind to platelets via platelet Fc gamma receptors. Cross-linking of multiple Fc gamma receptors results in platelet activation, platelet aggregation and enhanced thrombin generation with a increasing risk of developing new thrombosis. In children, data on HIT are sparse. This review of the literature reports on 8 children aged 3 months to 15 years and 14 newborns suffering from HIT. Additionally, we report one new case treated with danaparoid sodium. Thrombotic complications were venous (n = 12) and arterial (n = 15). The children received heparin either for a spontaneous thrombotic event, for severe cardiac diseases or to maintain patency of intravascular catheters which are used for nutrition, blood sampling, and for application of medication. After diagnosis of HIT they were further anticoagulated with aspirin, warfarin, danaparoid sodium, lepirudin or low molecular weight heparin. CONCLUSION: Although HIT is less frequently reported in newborns and children, paediatricians should be aware of HIT in childhood as a potential complication of heparin application. The widespread practice of flushing catheters with heparin should also be debated in view of the risk of triggering the primary immune-response of HIT. In 1999, treatment options for further parenteral anticoagulation of HIT patients are danaparoid sodium (a low-molecular weight heparinoid) and lepirudin (a direct thrombin inhibitor).

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT): an overview of 230 patients treated with orgaran (Org 10172)

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with thrombosis occurs in about 1 in 2,000 heparin-treated patients. The arterial or venous thromboses may threaten life and limb hence alternative anticoagulation is needed. Some alternative treatments are possible i.e. LMWH, Ancrod, prostacyclin analogues, Dextran, aspirin and oral anticoagulants, but each has its drawbacks. This report reviews treatment of HIT patients with Orgaran (Org 10172), a low molecular weight heparinoid. Because of its proven antithrombotic activity Orgaran was used to treat 230 HIT patients. One hundred and fifty, nine patients presented with at least one thrombotic problem, which in 88 was due to the heparin use. 92.8% of the patients were considered to have adequately responded to Orgaran during the treatment period. Fifty-nine deaths (25.7%) occurred of which 7 (3.0%) were attributed to Orgaran use. The remaining 52 deaths, 27 of which occurred after Orgaran treatment was successfully terminated, were due to the severe underlying disorders in these patients. These results and the lower cross-reactivity rate (approximately 10%) with the heparin-induced antibody compared with that of the LMWH (> 90%) suggest that although problems remain, Orgaran can be a valuable alternative treatment for patients who suffer from HIT and who require anticoagulation.

Orgaran (Org 10172) or heparin for preventing venous thrombosis after elective surgery for malignant disease? A double-blind, randomised, multicentre comparison. ANZ-Organon Investigators' Group.

This double-blind, randomised, multicentre trial in 513 patients having elective surgery for intra-abdominal or intrathoracic malignancy compared the efficacy and safety of venous thrombosis (VT) prophylaxis using 750 anti-factor Xa units of Orgaran (a mixture of low molecular weight heparinoids) given subcutaneously (sc) twice-daily with that of twice-daily injections of 5,000 units standard heparin. The main study endpoints were the development of postoperative VT detected by 125I-fibrinogen leg scanning, and the onset of clinically significant venous thromboembolism or bleeding. "Intent to treat" analysis showed a statistically non-significant trend towards less VT during Orgaran prophylaxis (10.4%) than after heparin (14.9%) and there was no difference in bleeding complications between the two study groups. Results remained similar if only patients who completed the intended course of therapy ("compliant patients") were analysed. Other trials have shown that Orgaran prevents VT after hip surgery and stroke. We now show it is also safe and effective in patients having major surgery for cancer.

Pharmacokinetic considerations on Orgaran (Org 10172) therapy.

Pharmacokinetic investigations on Orgaran (Org 10172) have been conducted by monitoring the following biological effects: plasma anti-Xa, anti-IIa and IIa-generation-inhibiting (IIaGI) activities. In addition, a limited number of studies were conducted on the basis of concentrations of the No-affinity glycosaminoglyc(uron)an (NoA-GAG) fraction as determined by a competitive binding assay. In humans, widely different pharmacokinetic profiles for various biological effects were observed, with relatively short elimination half-lives for the anti-IIa and IIaGI activities of 4.3 +/- 3.5 and 6.7 +/- 3.2 h, respectively, but a relatively long elimination half-life of anti-Xa activity of 24.5 +/- 9.6 h. These differences in half-life mainly reflect differences in the rate of elimination of individual components of Orgaran. Rapid elimination of some of these components may explain why twice daily dosing is required for optimal thrombosis prophylaxis with Orgaran. In a comparative study in healthy male volunteers, the pharmacokinetics of the following low molecular weight heparin(oid)s were determined after intravenous administration: Orgaran (3,750 anti-Xa units), Fragmin (5,000 anti-Xa units), Fraxiparine (7,500 IC units) and Clexane (40 mg). Between these products, wide differences in pharmacokinetics were observed. Particularly, the half-lives of anti-Xa activity and IIaGI activity were much longer for Orgaran than for the other products. At the same time, a relatively low area under the curve of anti-IIa activity was observed. The absolute bioavailability of Orgaran following subcutaneous administration was determined on the basis of plasma anti-Xa and IIaGI activities and the NoA-GAG fraction concentrations. Absorption from subcutaneous tissues was found to be close to 100%, which is significantly higher than of heparin; a finding which indicates that the subcutaneous route is reliable for the administration of Orgaran. The elimination of Orgaran components occurs by renal and possibly non-renal routes. With respect to anti-Xa activity, about 50% of the total clearance can be accounted for by urinary excretion. Therefore, in severe renal failure, a reduction of the maintenance dose of Orgaran would seem to be indicated. Studies on the influence of enzyme induction as a result of treatment with pentobarbital suggest that the pharmacokinetics of Lomoparan are relatively insensitive to changes in hepatic function. In a number of studies, the influence of conditions such as age, body weight and drug interactions were studied. Generally, only minor changes in the pharmacokinetic parameters of Orgaran were observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Orgaran in heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.

Patients who develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) frequently need further anticoagulation to treat an ongoing thromboembolic problem or to prevent one. Orgaran (Org 10172), a low-molecular-weight (LMW) glycosaminoglycuronan, has shown a low frequency (10%) of cross-reactivity in vitro with sera containing the HIT antibody, in contrast to the much higher frequency of cross-reactivity (approximately 80%) shown by the LMW heparins. This paper summarises the results of intravenous or subcutaneous Orgaran treatment in 57 of 67 Australian patients, in whom the diagnosis of HIT was reasonably confirmed by exclusion of other causes of thrombocytopenia and by objective tests. The presenting indications for Orgaran were: continuous venovenous haemofiltration and haemodialysis (n = 21), thrombo-embolism treatment (n = 23), thrombo-embolism prophylaxis (n = 10), and anticoagulation for coronary artery by-pass graft (n = 4), peripheral by-pass graft surgery and plasmapheresis (n = 1 each). The results showed Orgaran to be a safe, well-tolerated, effective (successful treatment in over 90% of patients) anticoagulant in patients with a high thrombotic and/or bleeding risk even if critically ill and requiring haemofiltration. The complete results of the world-wide study in 161 patients confirmed not only these clinical findings in the subgroup of 57 Australian patients, but also the low cross-reactivity (12%) of Orgaran with the HIT serum factor.

Prevention of deep vein thrombosis following total hip replacement by low molecular weight heparinoid.

We assessed the safety and efficacy of the novel low molecular weight heparinoid Lomoparan (Org 10172) for the prevention of deep-vein thrombosis in patients undergoing elective total hip replacement in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in 197 consecutive patients. The heparinoid (750 anti-factor Xa-units, s.c., b.i.d.) was administered to 97 patients and 99 patients received placebo. Study medication was started preoperatively and continued for 10 days. Efficacy was assessed by bilateral phlebography at day 10, postoperatively. The incidence of deep-vein thrombosis was 56.6% and 15.5% respectively in the placebo and heparinoid treated patients (incidence reduction: 74%; P less than 0.001). This reduction was observed both for proximal-vein thrombosis (25% to 8%; P less than 0.005) and isolated calf-vein thrombosis (31% to 7%; P less than 0.001). No major hemorrhage was observed. The number of red-cell units transfused and drain-fluid loss were comparable for the two study groups. Six patients in the heparinoid group and none in the control group developed minor wound hematomas (P less than 0.05). During an 8-week post-discharge follow-up period three patients with a normal venogram at day 10 developed clinically apparent venous thromboembolism, which was confirmed by objective testing. All three patients belonged to the heparinoid-treated group. We conclude that 750 anti-factor Xa units Org 10172 s.c. twice daily starting preoperatively is safe and effectively reduces early deep-vein thrombosis following elective total hip replacement. Further studies on the incidence of post-discharge thromboembolism are required.

Interaction study between Org 10172, a low molecular weight heparinoid, and acetylsalicylic acid in healthy male volunteers.

Potential interactions between Org 10172 (Lomoparan, i.v. bolus injection of 3,250 anti-Xa units followed by 750 units twice daily s.c. for 8 days) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) (500 mg orally 14 and 2 h before i.v. Org 10172 administration) were studied in eight healthy male volunteers using an open, randomised three-way cross-over design. Except for moderate bruising at venepuncture and s.c. injection sites which were equally distributed over all three treatments (Org 10172 alone, ASA alone, Org 10172 and ASA combined), no side effects were observed. The effects of the separate drugs on several haemostatic parameters were as expected, although the prolongations in bleeding time after ASA were highly variable and tended to be somewhat more pronounced after the combination (p greater than 0.05). Org 10172 did not influence the inhibiting effects of ASA on platelet function nor the functional recovery afterwards, as evaluated by thromboxane A2 (TXA2) generation and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. Furthermore, no important interactions were observed with regard to the coagulation tests and plasma anti-Xa activity. Although this study did not entirely exclude small interactions between Org 10172 and ASA in this relatively small group of subjects, these effects are probably without clinical significance.

The influence of Org 10172, an antithrombotic heparinoid, on urinary blood loss after transurethral prostatectomy.

We have measured the effects of Org 10172 (a mixture of naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans derived from hog intestinal mucosa) on blood loss after transurethral prostatectomy (TURP), using doses which are likely to prevent postoperative venous thrombosis (VT). 48 patients entered a double-blind randomised pilot study: 18 were given subcutaneous (sc) injections of a placebo and 30 received sc Org 10172 (750 anti-Xa units/day, 500 units twice daily (bid), or 750 units bid, starting just before TURP and continued until discharge; 10 patients per group). No Org 10172 regimen increased peroperative blood loss but all caused a similar trend towards increased urinary bleeding after surgery. Since there was no apparent dose effect gradient, it was decided to pool the data from all three dosing blocks: this analysis showed that Org 10172 increased geometric mean blood loss during the first 2 days after surgery from 10.4 gm hemoglobin (Hgb; range = 3.2-71) to 20.5 gm Hgb (range = 1.9-147) (p = .005), an effect which retained its significance after allowing for two other major determinants of postoperative bleeding, the weight of prostate resected and the length of surgery, and also when pooling was restricted to the twice daily Org 10172 injection groups and their corresponding controls. Bleeding was not severe, but our results indicate a need for caution when considering the use of Org 10172 in this setting.

ORG 10172: a low molecular weight heparinoid anticoagulant with a long half-life in man.

ORG 10172 is a heparinoid with mean molecular weight 6500 daltons. Intravenous bolus injections of ORG 10172 were compared with placebo and heparin injections in 91 separate studies in 83 healthy male subjects. 6400 units ORG 10172 produced a mean maximum change of 14.7 s in kaolin cephalin time (c.f. greater than 120 s for 5000 units heparin). Changes in prothrombin time were minimal (1.6 s for 6400 units ORG 10172 and 4.5 s after 5000 units heparin). A dose-related increase in bleeding time occurred after ORG 10172 and at high doses (greater than 3200 units) some secondary bleeding, which was never serious, occurred at between 1 and 4 h after incision. A dose-dependent reduction in ex vivo platelet adhesiveness was found at 10 min after ORG 10172 injection. ORG 10172 promoted a much smaller release of lipoprotein lipase as compared with heparin. The effect of ORG 10172 on plasma factor Xa activity (one measure of its action) was described by a biexponential decay with a mean distribution half-life of 2.34 (s.e. mean 0.16) h and mean disposition half-life of 17.6 (s.e. mean 1.1) h. It thus has a much longer duration of effect than heparin. There was a linear relationship of plasma anti-Xa response to increasing dose although there was some variability only partly explained by differences in body weight or surface area. ORG 10172 administration by bolus intravenous injection was well tolerated and there was no evidence of adverse effects on clinical chemistry or haematology tests.

Double-blind randomised trial of Org 10172 low-molecular-weight heparinoid in prevention of deep-vein thrombosis in thrombotic stroke.

In a double-blind, randomised trial Org 10172 low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparinoid was compared with placebo in the prevention of deep-vein thrombosis in patients with acute thrombotic stroke. Prophylaxis was started within 7 days of the onset of stroke with a loading dose of 1000 anti-factor-Xa units intravenously followed by a fixed dose of 750 anti-factor-Xa units twice a day subcutaneously; it was continued for 14 days or until hospital discharge, if earlier. 50 patients were randomised to receive Org 10172 and 25 to receive placebo. All patients underwent surveillance with I125-fibrinogen leg scanning and impedance plethysmography. Venography was carried out if either test became positive. Venous thrombosis occurred in 2 of 50 patients (4.0%) given Org 10172 and 7 of 25 patients (28.0%) given placebo (p = 0.005); the corresponding rates of proximal-vein thrombosis were 0% and 16%, respectively (p = 0.01). There was one major haemorrhage in the Org 10172 group and one minor bleed in the placebo group.

Early clinical experience of a new heparinoid, Org 10172, in prevention of deep venous thrombosis.

The potential antithrombotic effect of a new low molecular weight heparinoid, Org 10172, was examined in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging pilot study of the prevention of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in 45 high-risk patients having major thoracic or abdominal surgery for cancer. Org 10172 was given in doses of 500, 750 or 1000 U bd subcutaneously. DVT occurred in 9 of 14 patients given placebo and in 4 of 11 patients given 500 U bd but in none of the 20 patients given 750 or 1000 U bd. Operative blood loss and post-operative bleeding were not significantly different between the groups but one patient given 1000 U bd had major post-operative bleeding. Average mid-interval and trough plasma anti-Xa levels reached 0.26 and 0.20 U/ml respectively following the highest dose. It is concluded that Org 10172 is a potentially useful antithrombotic agent and that the effective and safe dose appears to be between 500 and 1000 U bd for prevention of DVT in high-risk patients.

Use of a heparinoid in patients with hemorrhagic stroke and thromboembolic disease.

A new heparinoid, Org 10172, was given to five patients with hemorrhagic stroke with thromboembolic complications. Treatment did not cause progression of cerebral bleeding, and thrombotic processes were inhibited. No side effects were encountered.