Weight-Adjusted Dosing of Tinzaparin in Pregnancy

Physicians in the Calgary Health Region are using tinzaparin (predominantly) and other low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) for the treatment venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy. The most recent anticoagulation guidelines from American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) suggest that heparin levels (anti-Factor-Xa activity levels) may be done periodically through pregnancy to determine the need to adjust the dose of LMWH as pregnancy progresses. This monitoring is widely practiced. There is no clear consensus in the literature, however, with some experts suggesting that initial and subsequent dosing may be done based on weight alone (as is done in the non-pregnant population). Given the multiple physiologic changes which occur to drug metabolism during pregnancy, this bears further evaluation. To date, there is very limited data on weight-adjusted dosing of LMWH in pregnancy. This study is therefore designed to determine if dosing of tinzaparin during pregnancy based on weight, with periodic weight-based adjustments, will result in adequate therapeutic anticoagulation.