Heparin - Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) vs Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin (LMWH)
UFH:
• Advantages:
- Rapid onset and clearance
- Anticoagulation effect easily monitored
- Ok in renal failure
- Can be rapidly reversed with protamine
• Disadvantages:
- Frequent monitoring required
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
LMWH:
• Advantages:
- Longer duration Of action when administered sub-Q (as compared to heparin)
- Lab monitoring Of anticoagulation effect is generally unnecessary
• Disadvantages:
- Relatively contraindicated in renal failure
- Unknown Optimal dosing in morbidly obese patients
- If monitoring is needed, it requires an anti-factor Xa level (which is less available than aPTT)
- Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (mixed data on whether risk is equal to, or lower as compared to UFH)
- Less reliably reversed with protamine
Dr. Eric Strong @DrEricStrong - Strong Medicine https://www.youtube.com/c/EricsMedi
#UFH #LMWH #Heparin #comparison #Unfractionated #pharmacology
