Skip Navigation

European Heart Journal 2002 23(15):1213-1218; doi:10.1053/euhj.2001.3077
Copyright © 2002 by the European Society of Cardiology.
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow References
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (3)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Husted, S.E.
Right arrow Articles by Swahn, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Husted, S.E.
Right arrow Articles by Swahn, E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Benefits of extended treatment with dalteparin in patients with unstable coronary artery disease eligible for revascularization

S.E. Husteda,f1, L. Wallentinb, B. Lagerqvistc, F. Kontnyd, E. Ståhlee and E. Swahnf

a Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
b Department of Cardiology, Uppsala Cardiothoracic Center, Uppsala, Sweden
c Department of Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Center, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
d Department of Cardiology, The Heart and Lung Centre, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
e Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
f Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden

revised October 22, 2001; accepted November 7, 2001

Abstract

Aims The FRISC II trial demonstrated that, for patients with unstable coronary artery disease, an early invasive strategy following acute treatment with dalteparin and aspirin, was superior to a more conservative approach. We evaluated whether it is beneficial to extend treatment with dalteparin to patients eligible for revascularization but for whom these procedures are performed after the initial hospital stay.

Methods and Results As a subanalysis of FRISC II, the efficacy and clinical safety of extended dalteparin treatment (5000 or 7500IU.12h–1 to day 90) compared with placebo was assessed in 1601 patients randomized to a non-invasive group who underwent revascularization only when necessary because of recurring symptoms, (re)infarction, or severe ischaemia. By day 90, 440 patients had undergone revascularization: 267 of these procedures occurred during the double-blind period. All patients initially received acute treatment (5–7 days from day 1) with dalteparin (120IU/kg–1 12h–1). The incidence of death and/or myocardial infarction was monitored until revascularization or day 45 and until revascularization or day 90. There was a significant difference in the estimated probability of death and/or myocardial infarction until revascularization or day 90 in favour of dalteparin (log-rank test, P=0·0415) and there was a significant reduction in death and/or myocardial infarction in favour of extended dalteparin treatment at day 45, with a 57% relative risk reduction (P=0·0004). At day 90 the relative risk reduction was 29%. The safety profile of extended dalteparin treatment was similar to that of acute usage.

Conclusion Extended dalteparin treatment for up to 45 days is effective and safe as a bridging therapy for patients with unstable coronary artery disease awaiting revascularization.Copyright 2002 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .

Key Words: Unstable coronary artery disease, dalteparin, extended treatment, non-invasive management, invasive management, PTCA, CABG, anticoagulant

f1 Correspondence: Dr Steen Husted, Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur Heart JHome page
F.W.A. Verheugt
Low molecular weight heparin: a bridge over troubled water
Eur. Heart J., August 1, 2002; 23(15): 1144 - 1146.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.