Comparison of Anti-Xa Levels in Obese and Non-Obese Pediatric Patients Receiving Treatment Doses of Enoxaparin

Objective To determine if using actual body weight to dose enoxaparin in obese pediatric patients results in higher anti-Xa levels compared with non-obese pediatric patients. Study design This was a retrospective case-matched study of obese and non-obese pediatric patients receiving treatment doses of enoxaparin in a tertiary care children's hospital. Patients were included if they were initiated on treatment doses of enoxaparin, had appropriate anti-Xa levels drawn, and were between 2 and 18 years of age. Patients with renal insufficiency, hyperbilirubinemia, goal anti-Xa level 1 unit/mL, or receiving mechanical circulatory support were excluded. Obese patients who met study criteria were matched on a 1:1 basis with non-obese patients. Results All baseline characteristics were similar except for body mass index percentile (98.2 ± 2 vs 48.7 ± 15, P