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Heparin dosing in obese pediatric patients in the cardiac catheterization laboratory

Brady S Moffett1, Jun Teruya, Christopher Petit

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA. bsmoffet@texaschildrens.org

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|July 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Obese children receiving unfractionated heparin (UFH) showed no significant difference in response compared to normal-weight children. Activated clotting time (ACT) measurements indicate standard dosing is effective in pediatric obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Obesity Medicine

Background:

  • Pediatric obesity is rising, necessitating research into its impact on drug efficacy.
  • Unfractionated heparin (UFH) dosing in obese children requires investigation.
  • Current data on UFH's effect in pediatric obesity is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare UFH response in obese versus non-obese pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization.
  • To determine if weight-based UFH doses yield different outcomes in obese children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of pediatric cardiac catheterization records (2006-2010).
  • Inclusion criteria: UFH bolus and pre/post-activated clotting time (ACT) measurements.
  • Obese patients (BMI ≥ 95th percentile) matched by age, sex, and procedure to non-obese controls.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in UFH dose (units/kg) between obese and non-obese groups.
  • No significant difference in the timing of ACT measurements post-UFH.
  • Similar percentage change in ACT in both obese and non-obese pediatric patients.

Conclusions:

  • Obese pediatric patients exhibit no significant difference in UFH response compared to non-obese peers.
  • Activated clotting time (ACT) measurements suggest standard UFH dosing is effective regardless of weight status in this population.
  • Further research may explore optimal UFH dosing strategies in pediatric obesity.
Abstract

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