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Heparin Resistance. “Heparin resistance is a term used to describe the situation when patients require unusually high doses of heparin to achieve a therapeutic APTT” “ True resistance ” refers to a situation where the low APTT is reflective of a true absence of anticoagulation
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Heparin Resistance • “Heparin resistance is a term used to describe the situation when patients require unusually high doses of heparin to achieve a therapeutic APTT” • “True resistance” refers to a situation where the low APTT is reflective of a true absence of anticoagulation • “Psuedoresistance” refers to a situation where the patient is adequately anticoagulated despite a low APTT • Has been arbitrarily defined as the requirement for >35,000 units/24 hours • ~25% of patients with VTE fulfill this requirement Chest 2001;119:64S-94S
Heparin: Mechanism Only heparin molecules with at least 18 saccharides (~6000 daltons)can bind both antithrombin and thrombin ATIII forms irreversible covalent bonds with thrombin or Xa Only activated coagulation factors are targeted Unique Pentasaccharide sequence that interacts with antithrombin
Heparin: Monitoring APTT http://www.fritsmafactor.com/newfritsmafactor/?p=2489
Heparin Resistance Summary • Should be evaluated for when patients are receiving >35,000 units/24 hour period • Patients with heparin resistance may be over or under anticoagulated depending on the etiology of their resistance • If possible consider switching to alternative agent (LMWH, fondaparinux or oral anticoagulant) • If not possible consider testing anti-factor Xa levels (target 0.35 to 0.7 u/ml). If therapeutic with low aPTT then likely psuedoresistance