REGRESSION OF DEEP-VEIN THROMBOSIS BY IV-ADMINISTRATION OF A LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARIN - RESULTS OF A PILOT-STUDY

Twenty-five patients with phlebographically confirmed deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb were treated with intravenous infusions of low molecular weigh heparin for 7 to 29 days. The mean dosage was 15.2 +/- 3.0 Uanti-Xa (equivalent 7.6 +/- 1.5 U-aPTT). Phlebograms were taken before, during and after the treatment with low molecular weight heparin and evaluated using the score system of Marder. Nearly complete recanalization of the occluded veins was found in six (24 %) patients, improvement of the Marder score of 60 to 90 % was found in four patients and of 30 to 60 % in seven patients, while eight patients remained unchanged. With an average dose of 15.2 I.U./kg/h the heptest was prolonged to 70 to 120 seconds while the aPTT-level did not significantly increase. tPA-antigen-levels increased significantly in most of the patients after the third day of treatment, while PAI-activity remained unchanged. A positive conclusion between the decrease of the Marder score and the duration of treatment was found. Thus the low molecular weight heparin used in this investigation proved to be effective and safe in treating deep vein thrombosis.