UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: heparins in ACS

Keywords: enoxaparin, heparin, bleeding, complications (PubMed Search)

Posted: 8/5/2007 by Amal Mattu, MD (Updated: 4/19/2024)
Click here to contact Amal Mattu, MD

The risk of bleeding complications related to enoxaparin increases in patients with renal insufficiency. In fact, many recommend that unfractionated heparin be used instead of low molecular weight heparin in these patients because there is more safety data regarding unfractionated heparin. If enoxaparin is used, the dose should be cut in half (or given only once per day instead of every 12 hours) when the GFR is < 30 mL/min (GFR can be easily calculated by google-able GFR calculators on the internet).