Overview of enoxaparin in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis

Standard medical treatment for patients with acute venous thrombosis is ant ithrombotic therapy. Following a historical overview of the evolution of he parin therapy to include low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH), the pharmacok inetic properties of enoxaparin are described. Therapeutic advantages of LM WH over unfractionated heparin (UFH) are also discussed, including once- or twice-daily subcutaneous dosing, reduced hospital stays, elimination of th erapeutic monitoring for most patients, and possibly less bone obesity loss . Studies hare demonstrated that enoxaparin is at least. equivalent to UFH with regard to efficacy and safety. Opportunities for future study include evaluation of enoxaparin's efficacy for the prevention of deep vein thrombo sis within high-risk groups and for the treatment of thrombosis in such con ditions as pregnancy, cancer, obesity, and renal insufficiency, and ill chi ldren.