Orgaran in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in stroke patients

Venous thrombo-embolism is a common complication in patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Without prophylaxis, deep vein thrombosis occurs in 60-75% of patients with dense hemiplegia, usually in the paralyzed limb, and 1-2% suffer fatal pulmonary embolism. Orgaran (Org 10172, low-molecular-weight heparinoid) has been evaluated for the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in patients with acute ischaemic stroke in two studies. In a double-blind study, 75 patients were randomized to receive Orgaran (50 patients) in a loading dose of 1,000 anti-Xa units intravenously followed by 750 anti-Xa units subcutaneously 12-hourly or placebo (25 patients). Deep vein thrombosis occurred in 2 of 50 (4%) in the Orgaran group and 7 of 25 (28%) in the placebo group (p = 0.005). The corresponding rates for proximal deep vein thrombosis were 0 and 16%, respectively (p = 0.01). There was one major haemorrhage in the treated group and one minor haemorrhage in the placebo group. In the second study, the safety and efficacy of Orgaran was compared with unfractionated heparin in the prevention of deep vein thrombosis in a double-blind randomized trial. Eighty-seven patients with marked lower limb paralysis secondary to stroke were randomized to receive Orgaran (45 patients) in a dose of 750 anti-factor Xa units subcutaneously 12-hourly or unfractionated heparin (42 patients) in a dose of 5,000 units subcutaneously 12-hourly. Venous thrombosis occurred in 4 of 45 (8.9%) of the Orgaran group and 13 of 42 (31%) in the unfractionated heparin group (2p = 0.014). The corresponding rates for proximal vein thrombosis were 4.4 and 11.9%, respectively (2p = 0.255).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)