Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism with Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin.

There is now ample evidence to indicate that certain low-molecular-weight heparins given subcutaneously can replace continuous intravenous unfractionated heparin for the initial treatment of venous thromboembolism. The low-molecular-weight heparins have a predictably high absorption rate when given subcutaneously and a prolonged duration of action, permitting them to be given by a once or twice daily injection for the prevention or treatment of venous thrombosis. Furthermore, treatment does not require laboratory monitoring, thus eliminating the need for continuous IV infusion and permitting the early discharge of patients with venous thromboembolism. This should eventually lead to the outpatient treatment of venous thromboembolism. Studies to date indicate that low-molecular-weight heparin is more cost-effective than unfractionated heparin in the treatment of venous thromboembolism and the cost effectiveness will be increased by out-of-hospital treatment. At the present time, the findings associated with any individual low-molecular-weight heparin preparation cannot be extrapolated to different low-molecular-weight heparins, and therefore each must be evaluated in separate clinical trials. The information to date is that low-molecular-weight heparin is safer and more effective than continuous intravenous unfractionated heparin in the treatment of proximal venous thrombosis. The decreased mortality rate seen in two clinical trials, particularly in patients with metastatic cancer, was quite unexpected. This requires further confirmation in larger prospective randomized trials.