title: Low-dose versus high-dose heparin locks for hemodialysis catheters: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-dose heparin lock has been suggested as an effective and safe catheter lock in hemodialysis. However, whether a low-dose lock is superior to a high-dose heparin lock in preventing catheter-related infections and maintaining catheter patency is inconclusive.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching in NGC (National Guideline Clearinghouse), Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute Library, MEDLINE, EMbase, RNAO (Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario), Nursing Consult, PubMed, OVID, China Biology Medicine disc (CBMdisc), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and major nephrology journals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients receiving hemodialysis with central venous catheters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trials (RCT), controlled clinical trials (CCT), and cohort studies comparing low-dose heparin lock with high-dose heparin lock in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters. Intervention (exposure): Locking central venous catheters with low-dose heparin lock.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary outcomes include bleeding-related complications and catheter-related infections. Secondary outcomes include catheter retention time, catheter thrombosis/occlusion incidence, and catheter dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five RCTs and three CCTs were eventually identified for the meta-analysis, with 916 patients in total. Meta-analysis showed that, compared with the high-dose heparin group (≥ 5,000 U/mL), the low-dose (< 5,000 U/mL) heparin lock could significantly reduce the incidences of bleeding- related complications RR = 3.29, 95% CI (2.19, 4.94), p < 0.00001) and catheterrelated infections (RR = 1.66, 95% CI (1.01, 2.73), p = 0.04). However, no significant differences were observed in the catheter retention time MD = 9.32, 95% CI (-6.70, 25.35), p = 0.25), catheter thrombosis/occlusion incidence (RR = 0.68, 95% CI (0.28, 1.65), p = 0.39), or catheter dysfunction (RR = 1.07, 95% CI (0.75, 1.53), p = 0.71) between the high- and low-dose heparin groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose heparin lock could decrease the incidences of catheter-related infections and bleeding-related complications without influencing the catheter retention time or the incidence of catheter thrombosis/occlusion or catheter dysfunction. Low-dose heparin lock solution should be recommended for the hemodialysis patients using central venous catheter in clinic.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bihong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Yanpei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062905:Central Venous Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin