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Vol. 42. Issue 3.
Pages 130-134 (March 2006)
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Vol. 42. Issue 3.
Pages 130-134 (March 2006)
Original Articles
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Can Home Prophylaxis for Venous Thromboembolism Reduce Mortality Rates in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
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M. Modesto-Alaponta,
Corresponding author
manumalap@ono.com

Correspondence: Dr. M. Modesto-Alapont. Servicio de Neumología. Hospital Universitario La Fe. Avda. Campanar, 21. 46009 Valencia. España
, D. Nauffal-Manzura, E. Ansótegui-Barreraa, R. Menéndez-Villanuevaa, A. Ballestab, R. Touzab, M. Perpiñá-Torderaa
a Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain
b Servicio de Radiología, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain
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Objective

The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ranges from 20% to 60% in different studies and the mortality rates are higher for patients with both conditions. Heparin prophylaxis is therefore usually prescribed for COPD patients who are hospitalized for exacerbation. Once their situation becomes stable, however, they are discharged to home without prophylaxis even though the low level of physical activity their disease allows continues to put them at risk for VTE.

The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of home heparin prophylaxis on reducing the incidence of VTE and on the overall mortality rate in patients with severe COPD.

Patients and methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial of 87 patients with severe COPD who required home oxygen therapy (≥18 h/d) and whose physical activity was highly restricted. A total of 44 patients received low molecular weight heparin (3500 IU/d of bemiparin) subcutaneously for 6 months. The outcome measures were incidence of VTE and mortality at 3 and 6 months.

Results

Four patients (9.1%) died in the heparin group and 9 (20.4%) died in the control group; the difference was not statistically significant (P =.23). VTE without pulmonary embolism developed in 1 patient (2%) in each group. Slight bleeding complications appeared in 9 patients (20.4%) in the heparin group and 1 patient (2.3%) in the control group, a difference that was statistically significant (P =.015).

Conclusions

Home prophylaxis with heparin does not reduce the incidence of VTE or overall mortality in patients with severe COPD.

Key words:
COPD
Pulmonary embolism
Deep vein thrombosis
Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis
Objetivo

La incidencia de enfermedad tromboembólica venosa (ETV) en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obs-tructiva crónica (EPOC) oscila entre el 20 y el 60% según las series, y la mortalidad por ETV es superior en estos enfer-mos. Por ello suele prescribirse profilaxis con heparina a los pacientes con EPOC hospitalizados por una agudización. Sin embargo, una vez que se estabiliza su situación, se les remite a su domicilio sin dicha profilaxis, a pesar de que la escasa actividad física que les permite su enfermedad sigue constituyendo un factor de riesgo para la aparición de ETV. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido analizar si la profilaxis domiciliaria con heparina reduce la aparición de ETV y la mortalidad global en los enfermos con EPOC evolucionada.

Pacientes y métodos

Se ha realizado un ensayo clínico prospectivo aleatorizado con 87 pacientes afectados de EPOC grave que precisaban oxigenoterapia domiciliaria (18 h o más al día), con una alta limitación de la actividad física. Un total de 44 sujetos recibió heparina de bajo peso molecular (HBPM; 3.500 U/día de bemiparina) por vía subcutánea durante 6 meses. Las variables estudiadas fueron la incidencia de ETV y la mortalidad a los 3 y 6 meses.

Resultados

Durante el estudio fallecieron 4 pacientes del grupo que recibió HBPM (9,1%) y 9 del grupo control (20,4%); las diferencias entre ambos grupos no fueron esta-dísticamente significativas (p = 0,23). Presentó trombosis venosa profunda sin embolia pulmonar un paciente de cada grupo (2%). Aparecieron complicaciones hemorrágicas leves en 9 pacientes del grupo con HBPM (20,4%), frente a una en el grupo control (2,3%), diferencia que fue estadísti-camente significativa (p = 0,015).

Conclusiones

La profilaxis domiciliaria con heparina no reduce la aparición de ETV ni la mortalidad global en los pacientes con EPOC avanzada.

Palabras clave:
EPOC
Embolia pulmonar
Trombosis venosa profunda
Profilaxis de la tromboembolia venosa
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