Factor Xa Levels in Patients Receiving Prophylactic Enoxaparin Sodium in the Intensive Care Unit of an Academic Hospital

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the anti-factor Xa levels in patients receiving enoxaparin sodium for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients and methods: Using a cross-sectional study methodology, 73 ICU patients receiving 40 mg enoxaparin sodium daily were enrolled in this study. Anti-factor Xa levels were measured following the second dose. Prophylactic and subprophylactic groups of patients were compared for age, sex, weight, body mass index, total bilirubin, serum albumin, and APACHE II score. Results: Anti-factor Xa levels were prophylactic (0.2–0.6 IU/mL) in 44 (60.3%) patients and subprophylactic (<0.2 IU/mL) in 29 (39.7%) patients. The mean (SD) actual delivered dose of enoxaparin per kilogram body weight was significantly higher, at 0.59 (0.11) mg/kg in the prophylactic group compared to 0.53 (0.13) mg/kg in the subprophylactic group (p = 0.043). The subprophylactic group had significantly lower serum albumin levels compared to the prophylactic group. The total bilirubin levels were not found to be significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.110). Conclusion: A fixed prophylactic 40 mg dose of enoxaparin was associated with a high proportion of subprophylactic anti-factor Xa levels. Weight-based dose and serum albumin level were independent predictors of achieving the prophylactic target range. How to cite this article: Baloo MM, Scribante J, Perrie H, Calleemalay D, Omar S. Factor Xa Levels in Patients Receiving Prophylactic Enoxaparin Sodium in the Intensive Care Unit of an Academic Hospital. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(8):917–919.