Heparin treatment of deep venous thrombosis in 280 patients: symptoms related to dosage.
280 patients with phlebographically proven deep venous thrombosis received intravenous heparin infusion, mean duration 6.8 days, mean dose 370 U/kg/day. In 58 patients (21%) there was no apparent predisposing factor. Leg pain diminished more rapidly than edema. At discharge, 46% had edema. Symptoms suggesting pulmonary embolism (PE) occurred in 13 patients (4.6%) whose mean daily heparin dose was similar to that of the others. The only fatal PE occurred three days after cessation of heparin administration. Eight patients (3%) experienced major bleeding, the only fatal occurring after thoracocentesis. The frequency of major bleeding in patients above 70 years was 8% in females and 4% in males, in those below 70 years it was 0.5%; 22 patients (8%) had minor bleeding. Control phlebography after one week revealed completely cleared thrombus in 3%, partial clearance in 36%, unchanged in 39% and increased thrombosis in 22%. Dosage was significantly correlated to thrombus resolution.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006493:Heparin