Effect of unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparin on the clotting of platelet-reduced whole blood: an in-vitro study utilizing thromboelastography

Treatment of venous thromboembolism with concomitant thrombocytopenia is challenging. The platelet threshold for safe administration of anticoagulants is under debate, with minimum platelet count of 50 × 109/l being recommended as the safe cutoff. However, some evidence suggests administration of anticoagulants may still be safe at platelet levels of 30 × 109/l. Therefore, we developed an in-vitro thromboelastography (TEG) study to examine the effect of therapeutic or prophylactic levels of unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on the clotting profile of platelet-reduced whole blood. Using magnetic bead-based antibody chromatography, platelets were removed to achieve platelet-depleted blood (
Source: Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis - Category: Hematology Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research