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Pulmonary EmbolismPhase 4NCT07250763

Therapeutic Initial Heparin Dosing for Patients With Clots or Certain Heart Conditions Admitted to the Hospital

A Phase 4 study testing Initial Heparin Dose Modification in people with Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis, run by Inova Health Care Services at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial study is to test whether a mathematical calculation, using the patient's gender, weight and kidney function, can better predict a patient's heparin goal dose than a flat number of units per patient weight can. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Initial Heparin Dose Modification
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
145 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
20 Sep 2023to 31 May 2027
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age > 18 years-old
  • Diagnosis by the attending physician with one of the following conditions for which anticoagulation with heparin in an Food \& Drug Administration approved indication and considered the standard of care:
  • Moderate-intensity anti-Xa protocol: new-onset deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, or mechanical heart valve
  • Low-intensity anti-Xa protocol: atrial fibrillation, acute cardiac syndrome, embolic stroke
  • Heparin infusion either has not started or has been initiated in the last 120 minutes

Who cannot join

  • Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or ventricular assist devices such as Impella pumps
  • Diagnosis of thrombophilia/hypercoagulable state
  • Concurrent use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants or low molecular weight heparins
  • Baseline anti-Xa > 0.7
  • Pregnancy

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Inova Alexandria Hospital

    Alexandria, Virginia, 22304

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Optimization of Intravenous Unfractionated Heparin Starting Infusion Rate for Adult Patients With Deep Vein Thrombosis/Pulmonary Embolism or Cardiac Indications

The goal of this clinical trial study is to test whether a mathematical calculation, using the patient's gender, weight and kidney function, can better predict a patient's heparin goal dose than a flat number of units per patient weight can. Participants will have the first dose of heparin infusion calculated, after which if adjustments are needed, the Hospital's prebuilt table for results driven dosing for this purpose is used. The researchers will compare the time it takes for the participants to get to the desired goal using the patient's information for calculation versus patients in the past who received the medication using the flat rate. The hypothesis is that the patients with enhanced personal data, gender, weight and kidney function, included for the initial dose, will get to their goal lab value sooner and with less chance of delay or overshooting the goal. A quicker time to goal lab value is beneficial to patients in many ways, including earlier treatment of the clot or coronary issue that the patient is experiencing.

Read the detailed description

Heparin infusions are high-risk medications that must be titrated to effect within a narrow therapeutic anti-Xa range. Prolonging the time to reach the therapeutic range decreases the clinical effectiveness of the infusion and increases the potential for adverse drug events.

The intervention used in this study will be calculating the initial heparin infusion rates described below rather than dosing 18 units/kg/hr for the moderate-intensity protocol and 12 units/kg/hr with a dose cap of 1000 units/hr for the low-intensity protocol.

Moderate-Intensity Protocol (R2 = 0.48) Heparin infusion rate (unit/(kg*hr))=(1004.8-163.5*(1 if female)-4.8*(age in years)+14.6*(actual body weight in kg)-19.3*(BMI in kg/m^2))/(Actual body weight in kg)

Low-Intensity Protocol (R2 = 0.31) Heparin infusion rate (unit/(kg*hr))=(615.5-70.1*(1 if female)-1.7*(age in years)+10.1*(actual body weight in kg)-11.9*(BMI in kg/m^2))/(Actual body weight in kg)

All other components of heparin infusion management will be conducted per Inova Health System standard of care.

Being tested
Initial Heparin Dose Modification
Medical subject headings
Pulmonary Embolism, Venous Thrombosis, Atrial Fibrillation

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Initial Heparin Dose ModificationDrug

    Also called Use of a patient specific calculator to determine therapeutic dose at initiation of heparin

    A patient specific initial therapeutic dose calculator will be used to start the heparin drip. The aim is to start the patient on a dose that is or is close to the therapeutic dose - one that gets the patient to the goal outcome (lab value driven)

Study groups in NCT07250763
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
acute care patients prescribed heparin for treatment of DVT, PE or for conditions such as ACS, AfibExperimentalThis arm will be participants whose initial dose will be using the patient specific calculator
Receives: Drug: Initial Heparin Dose Modification

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. The proportion of patients with steady-state anti Xa level within goal range

    The proportion of patients who have a heparin infusion charted as administered for at least 6 hours who achieve at least one steady state anti-Xa level in the goal range. A steady state anti-Xa level is defined as an anti-Xa level drawn a minimum of 6 hours since the last titration or bolus dose was charted as administered. The goal anti-Xa range is defined as 0.3 to 0.7 for the moderate-intensity protocol and 0.3 to 0.5 for the low-intensity protocol.

    Measured: up to 72 hours from infusion initiation

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Time to first anti-Xa level within goal therapeutic range

    time from first heparin infusion administration to the first anti-Xa level within the therapeutic range. Therapeutic ranges are as defined to moderate and low intensity protocols. Variability across participants will be summarized using a standard deviation

    Measured: up to 72 hours from infusion initiation

  2. Change in hemoglobin from baseline

    Absolute change in the measurement of the hemoglobin from start of the heparin infusion throughout the inpatient stay to see if the decrease is a delta of >2gm/dL. Events of >2g/dL will be summarized separately.

    Measured: baseline, through the study completion, an average of 5 days

  3. The Incidence of thrombosis during hospitalization

    Number of participants who experience thrombosis during hospitalization

    Measured: baseline, through the study completion, an average of 5 days

  4. Incidence of major bleeding events during hospitalization

    The number of participants who experience major bleeding events during hospitalization.

    Measured: baseline, through the study completion, an average of 5 days

  5. Length of stay in acute care setting

    Total duration of hospitalization in acute care setting in days

    Measured: baseline, through the study completion, an average of 5 days

  6. Mortality during hospitalization

    Proportion of participants who die from any cause during hospitalization.

    Measured: baseline, through the study completion, an average of 5 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Nov 2025
  2. Study start20 Sep 2023
  3. Primary completion28 Feb 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 May 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
Retrospective chart review and data was used to develop a dosing equation that uses patient specific factors. Results of intervention group will be compared to the retrospective group.
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
145 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07250763
Sponsor's protocol ID
U21-08-4517
Status last verified
Nov 2025
First submitted
14 Nov 2025
Last updated
26 Nov 2025
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Data obtained through this study may be provided to qualified researchers with academic interest in doing of Heparin Infusions. Data or samples shared will be coded, with no PHI included. Approval of the request and execution of all applicable agreements (i.e. a material transfer agreement) are prerequisites to the sharing of data with the requesting party.

Publications

  • Schurr JW, Muske AM, Stevens CA, Culbreth SE, Sylvester KW, Connors JM. Derivation and Validation of Age- and Body Mass Index-Adjusted Weight-Based Unfractionated Heparin Dosing. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2019 Jan-Dec;25:1076029619833480. doi: 10.1177/1076029619833480.

    PubMed 30841720
  • Smythe MA, Priziola J, Dobesh PP, Wirth D, Cuker A, Wittkowsky AK. Guidance for the practical management of the heparin anticoagulants in the treatment of venous thromboembolism. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2016 Jan;41(1):165-86. doi: 10.1007/s11239-015-1315-2.

    PubMed 26780745
  • Granger CB, Hirsch J, Califf RM, Col J, White HD, Betriu A, Woodlief LH, Lee KL, Bovill EG, Simes RJ, Topol EJ. Activated partial thromboplastin time and outcome after thrombolytic therapy for acute myocardial infarction: results from the GUSTO-I trial. Circulation. 1996 Mar 1;93(5):870-8. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.93.5.870.

    PubMed 8598077
  • Hirsh J, Raschke R, Warkentin TE, Dalen JE, Deykin D, Poller L. Heparin: mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, dosing considerations, monitoring, efficacy, and safety. Chest. 1995 Oct;108(4 Suppl):258S-275S. doi: 10.1378/chest.108.4_supplement.258s. No abstract available.

    PubMed 7555181
  • Barletta JF, DeYoung JL, McAllen K, Baker R, Pendleton K. Limitations of a standardized weight-based nomogram for heparin dosing in patients with morbid obesity. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2008 Nov-Dec;4(6):748-53. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2008.03.005. Epub 2008 Jun 30.

    PubMed 18586569
  • Riney JN, Hollands JM, Smith JR, Deal EN. Identifying optimal initial infusion rates for unfractionated heparin in morbidly obese patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2010 Jul-Aug;44(7-8):1141-51. doi: 10.1345/aph.1P088. Epub 2010 Jun 29.

    PubMed 20587743
  • Fan J, John B, Tesdal E. Evaluation of heparin dosing based on adjusted body weight in obese patients. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2016 Oct 1;73(19):1512-22. doi: 10.2146/ajhp150388.

    PubMed 27646813
  • Shlensky JA, Thurber KM, O'Meara JG, Ou NN, Osborn JL, Dierkhising RA, Mara KC, Bierle DM, Daniels PR. Unfractionated heparin infusion for treatment of venous thromboembolism based on actual body weight without dose capping. Vasc Med. 2020 Feb;25(1):47-54. doi: 10.1177/1358863X19875813. Epub 2019 Oct 18.

    PubMed 31623539
  • Zifko UA, Slomka PJ, Reid RH, Young GB, Remtulla H, Bolton CF. The cortical representation of somatosensory evoked potentials of the phrenic nerve. J Neurol Sci. 1996 Aug;139(2):197-202.

    PubMed 8856653
  • Raschke RA, Gollihare B, Peirce JC. The effectiveness of implementing the weight-based heparin nomogram as a practice guideline. Arch Intern Med. 1996 Aug 12-26;156(15):1645-9.

    PubMed 8694662

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing Initial Heparin Dose Modification in people with Pulmonary Embolism and Deep Vein Thrombosis, run by Inova Health Care Services at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 26 Nov 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The proportion of patients with steady-state anti Xa level within goal range (time frame: up to 72 hours from infusion initiation). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07250763, which also lists 10 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 26 Nov 2025.

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