Tinzaparin - A once-daily low-molecular-weight heparin for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis

Tinzaparin is a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) recently approved for t he treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It is administered subcutaneous ly once daily. Three clinical trials have shown tinzaparin to be at least a s effective and safe as unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the treatment of DV T. Because tinzaparin does not require laboratory monitoring, it offers a m ore simplified treatment regimen compared with UFH, In clinical trials for DVT prophylaxis, tinzaparin was more effective than placebo and warfarin bu t was associated with a higher incidence of bleeding complications relative to warfarin, The one direct comparison of tinzaparin with another LMWH fou nd it and enoxaparin to be equally safe and effective for DVT prophylaxis i n hip replacement patients. like UFH and other LMWHs, tinzaparin is associa ted with a risk of bleeding and thrombocytopenia. Economic evaluations sugg est that tinzaparin is less costly than IV UFH for the treatment of DVT but more costly than warfarin for DVT prophylaxis in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.