Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin for Treating Venous Thromboembolism

Letters5 January 1999Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin for Treating Venous ThromboembolismMichael Scott Mahoney, MD and Marc Kahn, MDMichael Scott Mahoney, MDSearch for more papers by this author and Marc Kahn, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-130-1-199901050-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:In the editorial about the utility of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in the setting of venous thromboembolism, Koopman and Büller (1) make a strong argument in favor of the increased use of LMWH. However, we are not convinced that LMWH is safer than intravenous unfractionated heparin with regard to significant bleeding. The risk for bleeding is an important end point in the use of LMWH in the clinical setting.As evidence for their statement that LMWH has been shown (at least for deep venous thrombosis) to have “decreased risk of bleeding,” the authors cite their recent review with ...References1. Koopman MM, Büller HR. Low-molecular-weight heparins in the treatment of venous thromboembolism [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 1998;128:1037-9. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Turkstra F, Koopman MM, Büller HR. The treatment of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Thromb Haemost. 1997;78:489-96. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Low-molecular-weight heparin in the treatment of patients with venous thromboembolism. The Columbus Investigators. N Engl J Med. 1997; 337:657-62. Google Scholar4. Simonneau G, Sors H, Charbonnier B, Page Y, Laaban JP, Azarian R, et al. A comparison of low-molecular-weight heparin with unfractionated heparin for acute pulmonary embolism. The THESEE Study Group. Tinzaparine ou Heparine Standard: Evaluations dans l'Embolie Pulmonaire. N Engl J Med. 1997; 337:663-9. Google Scholar5. Lensing AW, Prins MH, Davidson BL, Hirsh J. Treatment of deep venous thrombosis with low-molecular-weight heparins. A meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 1995;155:601-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoLow-Molecular-Weight Heparins in the Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism Maria M.W. Koopman and Harry R. Buller Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin for Treating Venous Thromboembolism Maria M.W. Koopman and Harry R. Büller Metrics 5 January 1999Volume 130, Issue 1Page: 77KeywordsDeep vein thrombosisHemorrhageHeparinLow molecular weight heparinOdds ratioPulmonary diseasesPulmonary embolismSafetyStatistical dataVenous thromboembolism Issue Published: 5 January 1999 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...