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Low‐molecular‐weight heparin (enoxaparin) as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of active ulcerative colitis: a randomized, controlled, comparative study
Author(s) -
ZEZOS P.,
PAPAIOANNOU G.,
NIKOLAIDIS N.,
PATSIAOURA K.,
PAPAGEORGIOU A.,
VASSILIADIS T.,
GIOULEME O.,
EVGENIDIS N.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2006.02870.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ulcerative colitis , tolerability , gastroenterology , adjuvant therapy , antithrombin , low molecular weight heparin , randomized controlled trial , fibrinogen , surgery , inflammatory bowel disease , heparin , chemotherapy , adverse effect , disease
Summary Background Heparin could be beneficial to the treatment of active ulcerative colitis because of its anticoagulant, anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Aim To evaluate the tolerability, safety and efficacy of low‐molecular‐weight heparin as adjuvant therapy in patients with active ulcerative colitis. Methods Thirty‐four adult patients with active ulcerative colitis were consecutively included in a prospective, randomized, comparative study, and were treated for 12 weeks. Eighteen patients in the ‘standard therapy’ group were treated with aminosalicylates and weekly tapered corticosteroids. Sixteen patients in the ‘heparin therapy’ group were treated with standard therapy plus enoxaparin 100 Anti‐Xa IU/kg/day subcutaneously. Results Seventeen patients in the ‘standard therapy’ group and 15 patients in the ‘heparin therapy’ group completed the study. Tolerability and compliance to therapy were excellent and no withdrawals were noted because of complications. There was a significant improvement in the disease severity in both groups ( P < 0.001), without any difference between them ( P = not significant). Both treatment groups showed similar proportions of disease improvement (65% and 73%, respectively; P = not significant). There were no significant differences in inflammation (fibrinogen, ESR, CRP) and coagulation (thrombin–antithrombin complex, F1 + 2, D‐dimers) parameters during and at the end of the study between treatment groups. Conclusion Adjuvant administration of low‐molecular heparin in patients with active ulcerative colitis is safe and well tolerated, but no additive benefit over standard therapy for ulcerative colitis was noted.