Development and perspectives of low molecular weight heparins

Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has a longer half life after intravenou s or subcutaneous injection in humans than unfractionated heparin (UFH) and is after subcutaneous injection much more completely absorbed. II has been shown in numerous studies that LMWH can be used for subcutaneous treatment of deep Venous thrombosis, even with only one injection daily and without monitoring. After subcutaneous application of LMWH, regression of thrombose s is more often seen than after UFH, bleedings are not seen that often. LMW H is however much more expensive than UFH. The most important advantage of LMWH is that it allows ambulatory treatment of patients in about 75% of the cases. This leads to a reduction of the treatment costs of about 50%, as h ospital costs are most important in patient treatment. That makes a hospita l treatment in many cases unnecessary.