A 75-year-old client weighing 60 kg has been on therapeutic … | MyMerci
Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Interactions PA
Question

A 75-year-old client weighing 60 kg has been on therapeutic enoxaparin 1 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 hours for a recent DVT for 4 days. The peak anti-Xa level (drawn 4 hours after the morning dose) is 1.4 IU/mL; institutional therapeutic peak target for q12h dosing is 0.5-1.0 IU/mL. Creatinine clearance is 35 mL/min. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?

Explanation
Anti-Xa interpretation — supratherapeutic LMWH
Anti-Xa level monitoring is recommended for LMWH in patients with renal impairment, obesity, pregnancy, extremes of age, or unexpected bleeding/clotting. Therapeutic peak (drawn 4 hours after SC dose):
Treatment q12h dosing: 0.5-1.0 IU/mL.
Treatment q24h dosing: 1.0-2.0 IU/mL.
Prophylaxis: 0.2-0.5 IU/mL.

This client has 1.4 IU/mL at q12h dosing — supratherapeutic. Risk factors for accumulation are present (age ≥75, weight ≤60 kg, CrCl

In-depth explanation

Clinical reasoning summary
Anti-Xa interpretation — supratherapeutic LMWH
Anti-Xa level monitoring is recommended for LMWH in patients with renal impairment, obesity, pregnancy, extremes of age, or unexpected bleeding/clotting. Therapeutic peak (drawn 4 hours after SC dose):
Treatment q12h dosing: 0.5-1.0 IU/mL.
Treatment q24h dosing: 1.0-2.0 IU/mL.
Prophylaxis: 0.2-0.5 IU/mL.

This client has 1.4 IU/mL at q12h dosing — supratherapeutic. Risk factors for accumulation are present (age ≥75, weight ≤60 kg, CrCl
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