low molecular weight heparins in treatment of DVT

Last reviewed 05/2023

Low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) administered at home has been shown to be as effective and safe as intravenous unfractionated heparin administration in the hospital in the treatment of some patients deep vein thrombosis (DVT) .

A more recent meta-analysis has concluded that, in patients with acute venous thromboembolism, fixed dose subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin is more effective at reducing the incidence of symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism, major haemorrhage, and all cause mortality, than adjusted dose unfractionated heparin (3).

Reference:

1. Weitz, JI. Low-molecular-weight heparins. NEJM 1997; 337: 689-698.
2. The Columbus Investigators. Low-molecular-weight heparin in the treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism. NEJM 1997; 337: 657-62.
3. van Dongen CJ et al. Fixed dose subcutaneous low molecular weight heparins versus adjusted dose unfractionated heparin for venous thromboembolism. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2004;(4): CD001100.