Should the MUHC use low-molecular-weight heparin in inpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis with or without pulmonary embolism?
Chen J, Penrod J, McGregor M
Record ID 32003000488
English
Authors' objectives:
This report compares the effectiveness and safety of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) with unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the in-patient treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with or without pulmonary embolism (PE), compares their direct costs to the MUHC, and formulates recommendations concerning the use of LMWH for inpatient treatment of these indications.
Authors' results and conclusions:
Efficacy:
Based on two well-designed meta-analyses and two more recently published randomized controlled trials, LMWH appears to be at least as effective, and possibly even slightly superior to UFH in preventing recurrent deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Safety:
LMWH is associated with either the same or possibly slightly fewer serious hemorrhagic events than UFH. In addition, its use reduces the frequency of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia compared to UFH.
Authors' recommendations:
The TAU Committee recommends that the MUHC approve the replacement, when clinically indicated, of unfractionated heparin by low-molecular-weight heparin for the inpatient treatment of deep vein thrombosis, with or without pulmonary embolism.
Authors' methods:
Review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.mcgill.ca/tau/publications/2003
Year Published:
2003
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
Canada
MeSH Terms
- Costs and Cost Analysis
- Heparin
- Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Venous Thrombosis
Contact
Organisation Name:
Technology Assessment Unit of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
Contact Address:
Technology Assessment Unit of the MUHC, Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 5252 boul. de Maisonneuve, Bureau 3F.50, Montreal, Quebec H4A 3S5
Contact Name:
nandini.dendukuri@mcgill.ca
Contact Email:
nandini.dendukuri@mcgill.ca
Copyright:
Technology Assessment Unit of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.