Anticoagulant effect of low molecular weight heparin on central venous catheters in haemodialysis patients

Purpose: To analyse the effect of low molecular weight heparin on venous catheters in haemodialysis patients.Methods: This study included 140 eligible patients who were randomly and evenly divided into two groups, viz, a study group that received low molecular weight heparin and a control group that received conventional heparin. The clinical effects and incidence of complications were compared for the two groups.Results: No significant difference in general characteristics or the incidence of tube occlusion was detected between the two groups. The mean blood flow volume of the study and control groups were 223.50 ± 19.10 and 222.70 ± 18.70 mL/min, respectively (t = 0.940, p > 0.05), and the incidences of complications (long-term vascular secondary changes and bleeding tendency within 1 year after tube in dwelling) were lower in the study group than in the control group. After haemodialysis, the activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time were shortened in the study group compared with the control group, whereas the platelet level was higher in the study group (146 ± 33 × 109/L) than in the control group (95 ± 36 × 109/L).Conclusion: The use of low molecular weight heparin as an anticoagulant solution for patients undergoing haemodialysis with central venous catheters (CVCs) is less likely to induce haemodialysisassociated complications and has fewer effects on coagulation function than conventional heparin. Thus, low molecular weight heparin seems to be more suitable as an anticoagulant solution in patients with venous catheters.Keywords: Low molecular weight heparin, Haemodialysis, Central venous catheter, Vascular acces