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Table 3 Safety of thromboprophylaxis with LMWH compared with UFH in medical patients.

From: An update on prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalized acutely ill medical patients

Study

Patients

LMWH

UFH

Safety

Harenberg et al.1990 [30]

166

Dalteparin 1500 aPTT units s.c. o.d.

5000 IU s.c. t.i.d.

Similar incidence of adverse events in both groups. Haematomas were significantly smaller in diameter in the LMWH group

Bergmann and Neuhart, 1996 [31]

439

Enoxaparin 20 mg s.c. o.d.

5000 IU s.c. b.i.d.

Similar incidence of adverse events in both groups

Lechler et al. 1996 [32]

959

Enoxaparin 40 mg s.c. o.d.

5000 IU s.c. t.i.d.

Fewer major bleeding complications and significantly fewer injection-site haematomas (>5 cm diameter) in the enoxaparin group

Harenberg et al. 1996 [33]

1,968

Nadroparin 36 mg s.c. o.d.

5000 IU s.c. t.i.d.

Major bleeding was rare. Local haematomas (>2.5 cm diameter), local erythema and local allergic reactions were more frequent in the UFH group.

Kleber et al. 2003 [34]

665

Enoxaparin 40 mg s.c. o.d.

5000 IU s.c. t.i.d.

Significantly fewer adverse events in the enoxaparin group

  1. aPTT, activated partial thromboplastin time; b.i.d., twice daily; LMWH, low-molecular-weight heparin; o.d., once daily; s.c., subcutaneously; t.i.d., three times daily; UFH, unfractionated heparin.