The low molecular weight heparin Enoxaparin inhibits the consumption of factor VII and prothrombin activation in vivo associated with elective knee replacement surgery

Patients over 40 years of age who undergo elective orthopaedic surgery have a relatively high risk for developing post-surgical deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Prophylactic use of heparin or low molecular weight heparins can reduce the incidence of post-operative DVT by up to 80%. It is not known whether prophylaxis is achieved by inhibition of prothrombin activation or catalysis of thrombin inhibition in vivo. We determined the changes in …