Jun 20 2012
I received this question from my good friend and colleague, Marisa B. Marques, MD, who directs the transfusion service and special coagulation laboratory at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital:
George: Could you find out which medical centers are using anti-Xa instead of PTT to monitor unfractionated heparin? I would like to hear their input and experiences in terms of patient care. Thank you! Marisa.
Please answer in the comment section below.
Comments (4)
Anticoagulant Therapy
We use the Anti-factor Xa as well as the PTT to monitor pati
We use the Anti-factor Xa as well as the PTT to monitor patients receiving UFH. Being a pediatric hospital, we do not have a significant number of patients on UFH. Typically we run patients who are on an ECMO circuit, or open heart surgery patients.
We routinely use the PTT to monitor heparin but we do run th
We routinely use the PTT to monitor heparin but we do run the anti-Xa in situations where the PTT cannot be used (i.e. lupus anticoagulants). We have tried to get the hospital to switch over to using the anti-Xa for monitoring all patients on heparin (we have shown the benefit of this) but because of the increased cost, we have been unable to make the switch.
At our 485 bed hospital we continue to use aPTT to monitor o
At our 485 bed hospital we continue to use aPTT to monitor our patients, and only use the Anti-Xa assay to conduct the aPTT correlation targets. Our medical staff has not asked for the Anti-Xa assay to monitor unfractionated heparin, despite recent literature that supports its use. I will be interested in hearing of other labs experiences.
Marisa,
We are getting ready to make that transition (from
Marisa,
We are getting ready to make that transition (from aPTT to Anti-Xa) this fall. So no experience to share at this time.