Prescription of fondaparinux in hospitalised patients

Fondaparinux is an antithrombotic agent with unique properties that may offer benefit to patients beyond the current approved indications. To explore the off-label use versus approved use of fondaparinux, we initiated a single-center registry of fondaparinux use. During the 25-month study period, 219 patients were prescribed fondaparinux: 157 (71.7%) for prophylaxis and 62 (28.3%) patients for the treatment of thrombosis. When fondaparinux was used for prophylaxis in our registry, 94% of patients had documentation of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Fondaparinux warrants further evaluation in patients with HIT or suspected HIT. In the meantime, its off-label use may exceed its use for FDA-approved indications.