Two recent studies have shown that enoxaparin sodium appears to be a favourable alternative to heparin for treating deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and reducing the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In the first study, the efficacy, tolerability and overall costs of enoxaparin sodium and IV heparin in the treatment of DVT were similar, yet researchers recommended enoxaparin sodium due to its ease of administration, avoidance of IV catheters and decreased need for laboratory monitoring. In the second study, enoxaparin sodium resulted in a significantly lower incidence of thromboembolic events plus mortality, and a lower incidence of bleeding events, compared with unfractionated heparin (UFH), in hospitalised patients at increased risk for thromboembolism. And a related study demonstrated that thromboprophylaxis guidelines are not being adhered to as well as they could be - 1 in 6 cases of VTE occurring over a 1-year period were found to be preventable. The studies were presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology [New Orleans, US; December 1999].