BENEFICIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT HEPARIN AS AN ANTICOAGULANT FOR HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS REQUIRING HIGH DOSE OF ORDINARY HEPARIN

Abstract

In order to clarify the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LH) as an anticoagulant for hemodialysis (HD) patients who required high dose of ordinary heparin (OH), minimum heparin requirement and changes in coagulation, fibrinolysis and platelet functions were compared between HD with OH (continuous infusion) and LH (single injection methods). Minimum requirement of heparin was less in LH than in OH. Although plasma anti-Xa concentration was higher in HD with LH than with OH, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) prolonged greater in the latter. No significant changes in intradialytic thrombin-antithrombin III complex, α₂-plasmin inhibitor-plasmin complex and D-dimer were observed in either OH or LH. β-thrombo-globulin was higher in OH than in LH at 15 minutes after the start of HD. Pletelet factor 4 decreased gradually in HD with LH. These results indicate that LH has several beneficial characteristics as an anticoagulant for HD patients who required high dose of OH.