Therapeutic use of low molecular weight heparins: the knowledge to date as applied to therapy

Indeed, the accumulating evidence indicates that certain LMWH administered subcutaneously may replace classic intravenous heparin therapy. Certain of these subcutaneously administered LMWH do not require monitoring. The simplified care offered by LMWH therapy presents the possibility of transferring care from in-hospital to out of hospital in uncomplicated patients with deep vein thrombosis. The advantages to the patient of avoiding in-hospital care and its associated hazards are obvious. Outpatient LMWH therapy will likely prove to be highly cost-effective. It is uncertain at present whether the findings associated with an individual LMWH preparation can be extrapolated to a different LMWH. For this reason, the findings of clinical trials apply only to the particular LMWH evaluated and cannot be generalized to the LMWH at large.