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Update on heparin: what do we need to know?

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Abstract

Over the last 15 years, there has been a shift from unfractionated heparin to low-molecular-weight heparin or fondaparinux for many indications. Nonetheless, heparin continues to be used and it remains the drug of choice for selected indications and patients. This paper reviews when and how to use heparin and when low-molecular-weight heparin or fondaparinux may be a better choice. The paper also describes some of the new parenteral anticoagulants under development and provides perspective on how the introduction of rapid-acting oral thrombin or factor Xa inhibitors is likely to reduce or eliminate the need for bridging with parenteral anticoagulants.

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Acknowledgement

Dr. Weitz holds the Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Thrombosis and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario/J. F. Mustard Chair in Cardiovascular Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine & Biochemistry, McMaster University, and Henderson Research Centre, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Daniel S. Weitz & Jeffrey I. Weitz

  2. Henderson Research Centre, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, ON, L8V 1C3, Canada

    Jeffrey I. Weitz

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  1. Daniel S. Weitz
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  2. Jeffrey I. Weitz
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Correspondence to Jeffrey I. Weitz.

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Weitz, D.S., Weitz, J.I. Update on heparin: what do we need to know?. J Thromb Thrombolysis 29, 199–207 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-009-0411-6

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