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news.A study has revealed the superiority of Sanofi-Aventis' blood thinner Lovenox over an older drug in patients who have had a stroke and are at risk of blood clots.
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The results of the trial showed that once daily administration of Lovenox 40mg was more effective than unfractionated heparin twice a day for the prevention of blood clots in patients who suffered an acute ischemic stroke.
The primary efficacy endpoint was the composite of symptomatic or asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis, symptomatic or fatal pulmonary embolism during the treatment period. The primary safety endpoints included symptomatic intracranial bleeding, major extracranial bleeding and all-cause mortality.
Among medically-ill patients, stroke patients are at an increased risk for developing blood clots. Without blood clots prophylaxis, up to 75% of patients with hemiplegia following stroke develop deep vein thrombosis and 20% develop a pulmonary embolism.
The study showed a significant 43% relative risk reduction in blood clotting events was observed with Lovenox compared to unfractionated heparin for the primary efficacy endpoint.
Importantly, the reduction in risk was also observed in patients presenting with different levels of ischemic stroke severity, without significant difference in clinically important bleedings as well.