Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin in the Initial Treatment of Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis

Intravenous unfractionated heparin followed by oral warfarin is the current standard of care for the treatment of acute venous thrombosis. More recently, several low-molecular-weight heparin preparations have been shown to be as effective and safe as unfractionated heparin for the initial therapy of acute proximal vein thrombosis. These drugs have a number of advantages over unfractionated heparin, and will undoubtedly replace the current standard for the initial treatment of venous thromboembolism.