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Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Electrolytic Inferior Vena Cava Model (EIM) of Venous Thrombosis
Published on: July 12, 2011
Antithrombotic effect of enoxaparin in clinically healthy cats: a venous stasis model
C M Van De Wiele1, D F Hogan, H W Green
1School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, VCS- Lynn Hall, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2026, USA.
Insights
Enoxaparin (1 mg/kg SC q12h) significantly reduced thrombus formation in healthy cats. Anti-Xa activity did not reliably predict this antithrombotic effect in the study.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Systemic arterial thromboembolic events are a severe complication in cats with cardiac disease.
- Understanding effective antithrombotic strategies is crucial for feline cardiac health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antithrombotic efficacy of enoxaparin in cats.
- To determine if anti-Xa activity predicts enoxaparin's effect at 1 mg/kg SC q12h.
Main Methods:
- A venous stasis model was employed in 14 healthy cats.
- Thrombus formation was assessed via thrombus weight and 125I-fibrinogen accretion.
- Plasma anti-Xa activity was measured in treated cats.
Main Results:
- Enoxaparin significantly reduced thrombus formation at 4 hours post-administration (P < .01).
- A non-significant reduction in thrombus formation was observed at 12 hours.
- Plasma anti-Xa activity showed no significant correlation with thrombus formation.
Conclusions:
- Enoxaparin at 1 mg/kg SC q12h demonstrates an antithrombotic effect in a feline venous stasis model.
- Anti-Xa activity is a poor predictor of enoxaparin's antithrombotic effect in this model.
- This pilot study suggests enoxaparin's potential in managing thromboembolic events in cats.
Background:
Systemic arterial thromboembolic events are a serious complication of cardiac disease in cats.
Objectives:
To determine if enoxaparin induces an antithrombotic effect in cats at a dosage of 1 mg/kg SC q12h and if this antithrombotic effect is predicted by anti-Xa activity.
Animals:
Fourteen clinically healthy cats were divided into 3 groups: control (4 cats), treated and assessed at 4 hours (5 cats), and treated and assessed at 12 hours (5 cats).
Methods:
A venous stasis model was used and the extent of thrombus formation estimated by measuring thrombus weight and accretion of 125I-fibrinogen. Plasma anti-Xa activity was measured in treated cats.
Results:
There was a significant reduction in thrombus formation in the 4 h group compared with control (median weight, 0.000 versus 0.565mg/mm, P < .01; median % 125I-fibrinogen accretion, 0.0 versus 42.0%, P < .01). There was a reduction in thrombus formation in the 12 h group (median weight, 0.006 mg/mm, P = .09; median % 125I-fibrinogen accretion, 3.83%, P = .09) but this reduction was not significant. The median percent thrombus inhibition for treated cats was 100.0% at 4 hours and 91.4% at 12 hours. Plasma anti-Xa activity was not significantly correlated with thrombus formation.
Conclusions And Clinical Importance:
This pilot study demonstrates that enoxaparin, when administered at a dosage of 1 mg/kg SC q12h, produces an antithrombotic effect in a venous statsis model in clinically healthy cats. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that anti-Xa activity is a poor predictor of enoxaparin's antithrombotic effect.
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