Chieti, Italy, London , UK - Deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, the potentially life-threatening disorders in which blood clots form primarily in the legs, were prevented in long-haul airline travelers with a history of heart disease through a single dose of the widely prescribed antithrombotic agent enoxaparin sodium (Clexane(R)/Lovenox(R)), according to a new study. The San Valentino Screening Project (the Italian equivalent of the well-known Framingham Heart Study) organised the study known as LONFLIT III. The entire LONFLIT research program includes more than 1500 subjects, each of whom experienced a flight of at least 10 hours in length.

LONFLIT III, an independently funded study, enrolled 300 people with a history of heart disease or stroke who were subsequently subjected to a plane flight of more than 10 hours in duration. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive either 400 mg of aspirin in one daily dose for three days (starting 12 hours before their flight), a single weight-adjusted dose (0.1 ml per 10 Kgs) of enoxaparin 2-4 hours prior their flight, or no preventive treatment. There were 52 patients who failed to complete the study after randomization and they were equally represented from among the three groups.

Among the 82 people receiving enoxaparin prior to their flights, there were no cases of DVT, and only one superficial clot (p<.002 in comparison with the other two groups). However, in the aspirin group, 3.6 percent of the 84 subjects had DVT, along with two superficial clots (p<.025), and in the no treatment control group, 4.8 percent of the 82 participants had DVT, along with two superficial clots. Participants underwent ultrasound scans within 24 hours before and after the flights to determine if DVT had occurred.

These data suggest that a single dose of enoxaparin is an important consideration for high risk patients prior to a prolonged flight, said researcher Gianni Belcar
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13-Nov-2001

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