Low Molecular Weight Heparin for the Out-of-Hospital Treatment of Venous Thrombosis: Rationale and Clinical Results

LMWH preparations have been proven to be safe and effective in the out-patient management of acute DVT. Although LMWHs are more expensive than unfractionated heparin, the lack of need for laboratory monitoring of LMWHs and their potential for out-patient treatment more than offsets the drug related cost difference and results in a net cost savings in favour of LMWH. LMWHs have undergone limited investigation for the secondary prevention of …