Low Molecular Weight Heparin Use in Nocturnal HD

Since people sleep during nocturnal HD, a form of heparin with a longer half-life is needed to keep blood from clotting. Enter low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). A study in Hong Kong* randomized 12 nocturnal HD patients to receive nadroparin or unfractioned heparin for a week—and then switch. The researchers concluded that LMWH was safe and effective, though if treatments are done each night, it is important to monitor for build up of the heparin in the blood.

Read the abstract » | (added 01-09-2017)