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Abstract

Enoxaparin is useful in the treatment of unstable angina, but its use is associated with many hematological side effects principally bruising appearance. A prospective comparative study was designed to evaluate the effects of certain predictors on the occurrence of bruising side effect of enoxaparin during the administration of two different subcutaneous (SC) doses (prophylactic vs. therapeutic) of enoxaparin injection among patients with unstable angina. Patients were divided into two groups, 60 patients served as A group given a prophylactic dose 40mg q12h. The other 60 patients served as the B group given 1mg/kg q12h. Area of the bruising was measured by disposable measuring tape as mm 2 . A significant higher occurrence in the mean of bruising area was found in males (P=0.014), geriatrics (P=0.001), patients with body weight more than 76 kg (P=0.007), therapy of 5-day duration (P=0.01), hypertensive patients and those treated with captopril (P=0.001) while receiving the therapeutic dose (B group) than those receiving the prophylactic dose (A group). In conclusion, certain predictors significantly affect the occurrence of enoxaparin bruising and could be considered clinically during the evaluation of bruising side effect of enoxaparin injection.