Are There any Differences in Thrombosis Prophylaxis and Side Effects Between Sodium and Calcium Heparin?

Abstract

In clinical studies on low dose heparin both sodium and calcium heparin have been used but no comparative investigation has been made. The aim of this study therefore was to perform a double blind randomized comparison between sodium and calcium heparin on prophylaxis of postoperative thrombosis and possible side effects. 75 patients were included in the study, 39 receiving sodium heparin and 36 calcium heparin (Heparin Vitrum from the same heparin batch was used and the following dosis schedule was followed: 5000 IU s.c. 2 hours preoperatively and then every 12th hour for 5 days). The injection was given on the lateral aspect of the thigh. Deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed with 125I-fibrinogen test. The activity over the site for heparin injection was also measured. The patients were interviewed by a nurse for local reaction and she also judged haematoma formation from photographs. Bleeding tendency was measured as blood loss during operation and total transfusion need. The groups were comparable concerning age, sex and type of operation. The frequency of thrombosis was 40% in the sodium heparin group and 43% in the calcium heparin group, and the blood loss 318 and 454 ml respectively (p>0.05). There were no differences in the patients’ subjective local reaction to heparin injection or haematoma formation judged from the photographs. Nor did the 125I-fibrinogen activity over heparin injection sites differ between the two types of heparin.This study has thus shown that sodium and calcium heparin are identical from the point of view of prophylaxis of postoperative deep vein thrombosis and side effects, provided that the heparin batch is the same in both.