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Updated: May 16, 2026
Rapid Point-of-Care Assay of Enoxaparin Anticoagulant Efficacy in Whole Blood
Published on: October 12, 2012
Anticoagulant use in real time
Divyamani Srinivasan1, Bree Watzak
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX, USA.
Insights
Venous thromboembolism (VTE), including DVT and PE, affects hundreds of thousands annually. This review details anticoagulant use, guidelines, and monitoring to improve VTE prophylaxis and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), affects 300,000-600,000 individuals in the US yearly.
- Genetic factors, immobilization, trauma, surgery, cancer, and critical illness increase VTE risk.
- Despite guidelines, DVT prophylaxis implementation in hospitals remains suboptimal, necessitating improved understanding and application of anticoagulant therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current treatment guidelines for VTE.
- To discuss monitoring, side effects, and reversal agents for anticoagulant drugs.
- To emphasize the importance of pharmacy education in improving VTE prophylaxis adherence.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of VTE treatment guidelines.
- Analysis of anticoagulant properties, including side effects and reversal agents.
- Discussion of clinical aspects of anticoagulant dispensing and pharmacy education's role.
Main Results:
- Anticoagulants are crucial for VTE prevention and treatment but require judicious use due to bleeding risks.
- Suboptimal implementation of DVT prophylaxis highlights a gap between guidelines and practice.
- Pharmacy education programs can significantly enhance adherence to VTE prophylaxis.
Conclusions:
- Effective VTE management requires understanding anticoagulant guidelines, monitoring, and potential complications.
- Disseminating knowledge on clinical aspects of anticoagulant dispensing is vital for improving patient care.
- Implementing evidence-based guidelines through education can maximize patient benefit and reduce VTE-related mortality.
Abstract:
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) encompasses deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Each year, VTE affects about 300,000 to 600,000 people in the United States, and death is the first manifestation in one-fourth of this population.(1){Beckman, 2010 #79} Moreover, approximately 10% of the US population has genetic factors that increase their risk for developing thrombosis.(1) In addition to inherited disorders, factors that contribute to VTE include prolonged immobilization, trauma, surgery, cancer, and critically ill patients.(2) Routine assessment and prophylaxis are recommended in these groups to avoid DVT-related complications.(2) Anticoagulants are the mainstay of drugs used in DVT/PE prevention and treatment. Despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for anticoagulant therapy, there is suboptimal implementation of DVT prophylaxis in hospitalized patients.(3) All anticoagulants are "high-alert" drugs, and judicious use is mandatory to prevent bleeding complications.(4) This review discusses treatment guidelines, monitoring, side effects, and reversal agents available for some anticoagulant drugs approved for VTE. Dissemination of the knowledge via pharmacy education programs significantly improves the adherence to VTE prophylaxis.(5) Understanding the clinical aspects of anticoagulant dispensing as presented in this review is hoped to facilitate implementation of the theoretical knowledge as well as evidence-based guidelines in order to maximize patient benefit.
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