Anticoagulants in children with renal impairment: a narrative review

Venous thromboembolism is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in children with renal disease. To properly treat and prevent thromboembolism in this patient population, it is important to be familiar with the multitude of anticoagulant agents currently available. Many anticoagulant drugs undergo some extent of renal elimination. There are important considerations for the selection, dosing, and monitoring of anticoagulant drugs for patients with renal impairment due to various pharmacokinetic alterations that may occur. While there are data to help guide dosing and monitoring in adults, evidence regarding renal dose adjustment of many anticoagulant drugs in children are limited. For the clinician, anticoagulation management in children with renal impairment presents unique challenges. In addition to considering overall bleeding risk, the extent of renal impairment may vary by patient, making a one-size-fits-all approach to managing these patients difficult. These factors, combined with limited data, can make managing anticoagulation in children with renal impairment a challenge. Therefore, the focus of this review will be to describe the pharmacokinetics of the following anticoagulants in children with impaired renal function: unfractionated heparin, enoxaparin, dalteparin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, fondaparinux, bivalirudin, argatroban, dabigatran, and warfarin.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Pediatric review covering anticoagulant dosing in renal impairment including bivalirudin, argatroban and direct thrombin inhibitor adjustments by GFR.

Leech-derived molecules this paper discusses, each with a full profile in the ASH compound registry:

Explore cómo esta investigación se conecta con la práctica clínica

More peer-reviewed studies in Ensayos clínicos.

• Leech Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis — The Landmark RCT — Michalsen et al. (2003)
• Leech-Assisted Flap Salvage — Systematic Review of 277 Cases — Whitaker et al. (2012)
• Effects of hirudotherapy on liver functions, lipid profile, and insulin sensitivity in rats with metabolic syndrome — Bilden A et al. (2026)
• Efficacy and Safety of Hirudotherapy for Improving Sperm Quality Parameters in Male Infertility: A Randomized Controlled Trial — Abtahi-Forooshani M et al. (2026)
• Reverse Sural Flap Venous Congestion Successfully Managed With Enoxaparin in a Male Patient With a Traumatic Foot Crush Injury: A Case Report — Velasco-Bustamante J et al. (2026)
• Investigation of the therapeutic effects of medicinal leech treatment on lower extremity ischemia-reperfusion injury — Ünal K et al. (2026)
• Efficacy of Medicinal Leech Therapy in Diverse Clinical Applications: A Comprehensive Study from Azerbaijan — Farzali S et al. (2025)
• HIRUDOTHERAPY IN RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY: CASE-REPORTS AND REVIEW — Heinz P et al. (2020)
• Hirudotherapy Efficacy and Complications in the Management of Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review — Foppiani J et al. (2024)
• Hirudotherapy in Wound Healing — Nair H et al. (2022)

Browse all ASH-analysed research →