The Effect of Prophylaxis with Low Dose Heparin on Blood Coagulation Parameters

Abstract

SummaryHeparin was administered subcutaneously 5.000 IU twice daily using a double blind method to ten of twenty-one patients undergoing transvesical prostatectomy.Platelet count, APTT, thrombin time, Reptilase time, Normotest, fibrinogen, Factor- VIII, ethanol gelation test, antithrombin III, fibrinolytic degradation products, α1-antitrypsin and α2-macroglobulin were studied pre- and postoperatively up to the 10th postoperative day. Statistical analysis of parameters of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mechanism by which low dose heparin exerts its thromboprophylactic effect could not be elucidated from the study of the investigated parameters. The laboratory data gave no indication to a possible increased risk of postoperative hemorrhage.