Efficacy of unfractionated heparin for thromboembolism prophylaxis in medical patients

Kiran Yalamanchili, Rishi Sukhija, Neeraj Sinha, Wilbert S. Aronow, George P. Maguire, Stuart G. Lehrman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

A common mode of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in medical inpatients is unfractionated heparin 5000 U subcutaneously (SQ) twice daily. We examined the evidence in favor of using this dose of heparin in this group of patients. MEDLINE was searched for studies using the words deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis and heparin. All randomized controlled trials comparing heparin and placebo or heparin and a low molecular weight heparin were used. Relative risk was 0.4 (95% confidence interval 0.22-0.73) in studies comparing heparin 5000 U SQ b.i.d. with placebo. Relative risk was 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.21-0.38) in studies comparing heparin 5000 units SQ t.i.d. versus placebo. In studies comparing unfractionated heparin with enoxaparin relative risk was 1.42 (95% confidence interval 0.99-2.05). Heparin 5000 U SQ b.i.d. is less efficacious than low molecular weight heparins and unfractionated heparin 5000 U SQ t.i.d.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)293-299
Number of pages7
JournalAmerican journal of therapeutics
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2005

Keywords

  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Heparin
  • Prophylaxis
  • Pulmonary embolism

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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