Reducing VTE Risk in Orthopedic Surgery

The results of the study were presented at the International Congress on Thrombosis in Bologna (Italy).

The study results showed a 63% relative risk reduction in VTE in orthopedic surgery patients treated with oral ximelagatran (Exanta), compared to patients treated with a standard prophylactic, noxaparin. The relative risk reduction in major VTE was 67% for total hip replacement and 60% for total knee replacement surgery. Between 45-57% of patients undergoing total hip replacement without thromboprophylaxis develop DVT (deep vein thrombosis), a potentially fatal condition. Similarly, the rate of DVT for patients undergoing total knee replacement is 40-84%.

These results indicate that in the future, ximelagatran could more efficiently reduce the risk of VTE than current treatments. "In addition, a treatment that can be taken orally and does not require coagulation monitoring could improve the treatment benefit and patient acceptance,” noted Associate Professor Bengt Eriksson, principal investigator of the study.

Ximelagatran works by inhibiting thrombin, a key enzyme involved in the blood clotting process. The compound is being developed by AstraZeneca (London, UK; www.astrazeneca.com). "We see these results as a key step in introducing a fundamentally new approach to oral anticoagulation,” said Hamish Cameron, vice president, AstraZeneca.




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