A comparison of low-molecular-weight heparin and oral anticoagulants in the long-term treatment of acute deep venous thrombosis

Ergün Haliloğlu,

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2011.086

Ergün Haliloğlu¹, Sefer Usta¹, Mehmet Özkan², Özgür Sayıl³

¹Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Trabzon
²Medikal Park Hastanesi Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Bölümü, Samsun
³Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Trabzon

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2011.086

Background: In this study, the efficacy and safety of weight-adjusted doses of subcutaneous low-molecularweight heparin (LMWH) in the secondary prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were determined in comparison with oral anticoagulants (OA).

Methods: Forty consecutive symptomatic patients with objectively documented acute DVT of the lower extremities were included in the study. The patients were divided into LMWH and OA groups. Both groups used LMWH during the first seven days of treatment. Thereafter, one group continued to receive only LMWH while the other group continued that treatment with the addition of OA.

Results: There were no fatal bleeding complications in either group. Mortality was not observed in any of the 40 patients. Venous insufficiency developed in four (20%) patients in the LMWH group and in six (30%) patients in the OA group. During the six-month follow-up, recurrent thrombosis developed in two patients in the LMWH group and in four patients in the OA group. This was not found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: In our study, the use of subcutaneous LMWH without laboratory monitoring has been shown to be effective and safe for the secondary prophylaxis of acute DVT.

Keywords : Deep vein thrombosis; low-moleculer-weight heparin; oral anticoagulan; prophylaxy

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