Does fondaparinux improve outcomes in the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thrombosis?
Fondaparinux is a synthetic Factor Xa inhibitor with established efficacy and safety in preventing and treating venous thromboembolism, with ongoing investigation in acute coronary syndromes.
Fondaparinux (Arixtra) is a synthetic, selective Factor Xa inhibitor. Its pharmacokinetic profile allows once-daily subcutaneous administration of the drug without any laboratory monitoring. The benefit-to-risk ratio of fondaparinux in the prevention of venous thromboembolism has been extensively studied in both surgical and acutely ill medical patients at risk of thrombosis. Its efficacy and safety have also been investigated in the initial treatment of symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Finally, a number of Phase II trials investigated the safety and efficacy of fondaparinux in patients with acute coronary syndromes, and a large Phase III program is ongoing in this setting. This review focuses on the use of fondaparinux in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disorders.
Decousus et al. (2005) studied this question.