Anticoagulation Dosing Guideline for Adult COVID-19 Patients
Enoxaparin is the preferred first line anticoagulant for patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The incidence of HIT with enoxaparin is less than 1%.
VTE Prophylaxis: VTE prophylaxis will be considered for COVID-19 patients who are low risk.
Low risk COVID-19 patient 1. Not receiving mechanical ventilation 2. D-Dimer < 6 mg/L 3. ESRD on iHD without clotting
Kidney Function BMI (kg/m2) Dosing of Enoxaparin Concern for HIT or LMWH Failure CrCL ≥ 30 mL/min 18.5-39.9 30mg SUBQ Q12H Consult Hematology 40-49.9 40mg SUBQ Q12H ≥ 50 60mg SUBQ Q12H CrCL < 30 mL/min 18.5-39.9 30mg SUBQ Q24H Consult Hematology OR ≥ 40 40mg SUBQ Q24H ESRD/AKI on RRT
Special Population: < 18.5 (or weight < 50kg) Heparin 2500 SUBQ Q8H Consult Hematology
*Contraindications: Platelets < 25 K/uL or Fibrinogen < 50 mg/dL or active bleeding
Therapeutic anticoagulation Therapeutic anticoagulation will be considered for COVID-19 patients who are considered high risk or diagnosed with an acute VTE.
High risk COVID-19 patient (for all hospitalized patients): Receiving mechanical ventilation AND D-dimer > 6 mg/L OR Acute kidney injury (Scr increase 0.3 mg/dL above baseline) +/- CVVHD/AVVHD/SLED or IHD with clotting
Anti-Xa level goals for enoxaparin therapy (when indicated): 1. Therapeutic peak LMWH level (Drawn 4 hours after 3rd dose): 0.6-1 anti-Xa units/mL 2. Therapeutic trough LMWH level (Drawn 1 hour prior to 3rd dose): < 0.5 anti-Xa units/mL
Kidney Function BMI Dosing of Enoxaparin Concern for HIT or (kg/m2) LMWH Failure CrCL ≥ 30 mL/min 12-49.9 1 mg/kg SUBQ Q12H Bivalirudin infusion (see ≥ 50 0.8 mg/kg SUBQ Q12H Anticoagulation COVID- **monitor peak anti-Xa level with 3rd dose 19 guidelines for dosing) Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti- Xa level and dose adjustment CrCL < 30mL/min 12-49.9 1 mg/kg SUBQ 24H Bivalirudin infusion (see ≥ 50 0.8mg/kg SUBQ Q24H Anticoagulation COVID- **monitor peak anti-Xa level with 3rd dose 19 guidelines for dosing) Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti- Xa level and dose adjustment ESRD or AKI on 0.8 mg/kg SUBQ Q24H (MAX dose 1mg/kg Q24H) Bivalirudin infusion (see RRT **monitor peak and trough anti-Xa level with 3rd dose Anticoagulation COVID- Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti- 19 guidelines for dosing) Xa level and dose adjustment If minor bleeding prior to obtaining steady state anti- Xa levels Decrease dose to 0.5 mg/kg and monitor anti-Xa peak and trough with 1st dose of new regimen Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti- Xa levels and dose adjustment *Contraindications: Platelets < 50 K/uL or fibrinogen < 100 mg/dL or active bleeding
Intra-dialytic anticoagulation for renal replacement therapy Nephrology service will determine the need for a booster dose of IV enoxaparin when ordering renal replacement therapy Renal replacement therapy (iHD/SLED/CRRT) o Enoxaparin 30 mg IV x 1 preferably prior to or within an hour of starting dialysis o If HIT positive or enoxaparin failure, recommend switching to bivalirudin
This guideline/pathway is not intended to be a substitute for clinical judgement. The risk of bleeding must be weighed against the risk of thrombosis and its consequences. Anticoagulation in Pregnant Patients: Antenatal and Postpartum Management of anticoagulation therapy during labor and delivery requires specialized care and planning and should be managed similarly in pregnant patients with COVID-19 as other conditions that require anticoagulation in pregnancy. Prophylactic anticoagulation o All low risk pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection should receive prophylactic unfractionated heparin upon admission to reduce risk of venous thromboembolism
Trimester Dosing of Heparin Concern for HIT st 1 5000-7500 units SUBQ Q12H Consult Hematology
2nd 7500-10000 units SUBQ Q12H rd 3 10000 units SUBQ Q12H Therapeutic anticoagulation o For a high risk critically ill pregnant patient less than 22 weeks gestation or post-partum, enoxaparin should be considered
Gestational age Kidney Function BMI (kg/m2) Dosing of Enoxaparin Concern for HIT or LMWH Failure Less than 22 weeks CrCL ≥ 30 mL/min 12-49.9 1 mg/kg SUBQ Q12H Consult Hematology **monitor peak anti-Xa level with 3rd dose Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti-Xa level and dose adjustment ≥ 50 0.8 mg/kg SUBQ Q12H **monitor peak anti-Xa level with 3rd dose Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti-Xa level and dose adjustment CrCL < 30mL/min 12-49.9 1 mg/kg SUBQ 24H Consult Hematology **monitor peak anti-Xa level with 3rd dose Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti-Xa level and dose adjustment ≥ 50 0.8mg/kg SUBQ Q24H **monitor peak anti-Xa level with 3rd dose Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti-Xa level and dose adjustment ESRD or AKI on 0.8 mg/kg SUBQ Q24H (MAX dose Consult Hematology RRT 1mg/kg Q24H) **monitor peak and trough anti-Xa level with 3rd dose Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti-Xa level and dose adjustment If minor bleeding prior to obtaining steady state anti-Xa levels Decrease dose to 0.5 mg/kg and monitor anti-Xa peak and trough with 1st dose of new regimen Consult pharmacist to assist with obtaining anti-Xa levels and dose adjustment *Contraindications: Platelets < 50 K/uL or fibrinogen < 100 mg/dL or active bleeding
o For a high risk critically ill pregnant patient greater than 22 weeks gestation, unfractionated heparin should be considered due to its short half-life and reversibility . aPTTs should be monitored according to institutional protocol Unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin, and warfarin do not accumulate in breast milk and do not induce an anticoagulant effect in the newborn; therefore, they can be used in breastfeeding women with or without COVID-19 who require VTE prophylaxis or treatment o Direct-acting oral anticoagulants are not routinely recommended due to lack of safety data o Direct thrombin inhibitors should be used as a last line option with an assessment of benefit versus risk in patients who require anticoagulation and are unable to receive heparin products (e.g., heparin-induced thrombocytopenia) due to limited data available
This guideline/pathway is not intended to be a substitute for clinical judgement. The risk of bleeding must be weighed against the risk of thrombosis and its consequences. Bivalirudin: therapeutic anticoagulation Due to the liver injury that may be seen in patients with COVID-19, bivalirudin is the preferred direct thrombin inhibitor for the treatment of HIT, enoxaparin failure, or patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
CrCl (ml/min) Bivalirudin Initial dose (mg/kg/hour) > 60 0.15 +/- 0.1 30-60 0.08 +/- 0.04 < 30 0.05 +/- 0.02 IHD (25% clearance by HD filters) or CRRT 0.07 +/- 0.03 IHD - intermittent hemodialysis, CRRT – continuous renal replacement therapy
Dose adjustments:
aPTT (seconds) Dose adjustment Monitoring recommendations <50 Increase infusion rate by 20% Re-check aPTT 4 hours after rate change 50-80 No change Re-check aPTT at 4 hours; if 2 consecutive aPTTs are at goal, check aPTT q 24 hours >80* Decrease infusion rate by 20% Re-check aPTT 4 hours after rate change * If aPTT >3x baseline, consider holding infusion for 1 hour and re-starting at 50% lower rate
Monitoring: o aPTT q 4 hours following initiation of infusion and following dosing adjustment – target aPTT 50-80 o If 2 consecutive aPTTs are at goal, check aPTT q 24 hours o CBC as appropriate based upon clinical status of patient
Bivalirudin for renal replacement therapy CVVH: no loading dose, bivalirudin 2 mg/hour one hour prior to RRT until completion o If doses of 2 mg/hour are ineffective, increase bivalirudin dose by 20%
Transition from therapeutic enoxaparin to an oral anticoagulant Prior to discharge: o All high-risk patients previously on therapeutic anticoagulation without a confirmed VTE may transition to a DOAC at prophylactic doses . Rivaroxaban 10 mg daily (for patients with a CrCl > 30 ml/min) OR apixaban 2.5 mg bid x 4 weeks In patients who do not have insurance coverage for a DOAC or in whom a DOAC may be contraindicated, prophylactic doses of enoxaparin may be used for the time frame listed above Warfarin may be considered in patients who have confirmed HIT o All high-risk patients on therapeutic anticoagulation for a confirmed VTE may transition to a DOAC at treatment doses . Rivaroxaban 15 mg bid x 21 days followed by 20 mg daily thereafter OR apixaban 10 mg bid x 7 days followed by 5 mg bid thereafter In patients who do not have insurance coverage for a DOAC or in whom a DOAC may be contraindicated, treatment doses of enoxaparin may be continued for the time frame listed above Warfarin may be considered in patients who have confirmed HIT All patients initiating Determine COVID risk status
enoxaparin should have a baseline and q48h fibrinogen, D -dimer, aPTT and PT/INR.
Low risk:* High risk:○
Not receiving mechanical ventilation Receiving mechanical ventilation AND D-dimer > 6 mg/L D-dimer < 6 mg/L Acute kidney injury (Scr increase 0.3 mg/dL above ESRD on iHD without clotting baseline) +/- CVVHD/AVVHD/SLED or IHD with clotting
Recommend Prophylactic Dose Recommend Therapeutic Dose Enoxaparin□ Enoxaparin■
** 2 2 BMI 18.5 – 39.9 BMI > 40 kg/m BMI > 50 kg/m Concern for BMI 12– 49.9 kg/m2 BMI > 50 kg/m2◊ ESRD/AKI on Concern for 2 ◊ kg/m CrCl > 30 ml/min: CrCl > 30 ml/min: HIT/ CrCl > 30 ml/min: CrCl > 30 ml/min: RRT HIT, CrCl > 30 ml/min: Enoxaparin 40 mg Enoxaparin 60 mg LMWH failure Enoxaparin 1 mg/kg Enoxaparin 0.8 Enoxaparin 0.8 LMWH Enoxaparin 30 mg SUBQ q 12 hours SUBQ q 12 hours Consult SUBQ q 12 hours mg/kg SUBQ q 12 mg/kg SUBQ q 24 failure, or SUBQ q 12 hours hematology hours hours patients CrCl < 30 ml/min: CrCl < 30 ml/min or CrCl < 30 ml/min: receiving CrCl < 30 ml/min: Enoxaparin 40 mg ESRD on iHD Enoxaparin 1 mg/kg CrCl < 30 ml/min If minor bleeding, ECMO Enoxaparin 30 mg SUBQ q 24 hours Enoxaparin 40 mg SUBQ 24 hours Enoxaparin 0.8 decrease Recommend SUBQ q 24 hours SUBQ q 24 hours mg/kg SUBQ q 24 enoxaparin dose to bivalirudin hours 0.5 mg/kg infusion^
If concern for HIT, switch to bivalirudin If receiving RRT and concern for infusion^ circuit clot on prophylactic enoxaparin: Recommend additional Anti-Xa goals (when indicated)◊ Enoxaparin 30 mg IVP ONCE prior to Therapeutic peak LMWH level (drawn 4 or within one hour of initiating dialysis hours after the 3rd dose): 0.6-1 anti-Xa If receiving RRT and concern for units/mL circuit clot on therapeutic enoxaparin: Recommend additional Treatment trough LMWH level (drawn rd Enoxaparin 30 mg IVP ONCE prior to one hour prior to 3 dose): < 0.5 anti-Xa or within one hour of initiating dialysis units/mL
□Patients should not receive prophylactic dose enoxaparin if fibrinogen < 50 mg/dL, platelets < 25,000 K/uL, or active bleeding. ■ Patients should not receive therapeutic dose enoxaparin if fibrinogen < 100 mg/dL, platelets < 50,000 K/uL, or active bleeding. *If patients transition from low-risk to high risk based upon criteria or develop a VTE on prophylaxis, full-dose anticoagulation is warranted ** If BMI < 18.5 kg/m2 or weight < 50 kg, recommend Heparin SQ 2500 units q 8 hours ◊If BMI > 50 kg/m2 or AKI/ESRD, recommend anti-Xa monitoring (consult pharmacy for assistance) ^Bivalirudin is preferred to argatroban given likelihood of elevated transaminases (e.g., secondary to medications, ischemia, among other causes) in the COVID patient ○Upon discharge, apixaban 2.5 mg bid x 4-6 weeks should be continued in patients without a confirmed VTE and normal renal function and 2 weeks for patients with AKI/ESRD. Warfarin may be considered in cases of confirmed HIT. Patients with a confirmed VTE should be discharged on therapeutic anticoagulation.
References
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