Low dose heparin lock (1000 U/mL) maintains tunnelled hemodialysis catheter patency when compared with high dose heparin (5000 U/mL): A randomised controlled trial.
Randomized controlled trial published in Hemodialysis international. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis (2016)
Abstract
Introduction Heparin is commonly used after hemodialysis treatments as a locking solution to prevent catheter thrombosis. The comparative efficacy and safety of different heparin concentrations to maintain catheter patency has been previously reported in retrospective studies. We conducted a prospective, randomised, controlled study of 1000 U/mL heparin (low dose) versus 5000 U/mL heparin (high dose) locking solution to maintain patency of tunnelled catheters. Methods One hundred patients receiving chronic, unit-based hemodialysis with newly placed tunnelled hemodialysis catheters (less than 1 week) were randomly assigned to either a low dose (n = 48) or high dose heparin (n=52). The primary intention-to-treat analysis examined time to malfunction in both groups over a 90 day period. A secondary analysis compared baseline patient characteristics in relation to catheter malfunction. Findings Overall rate of catheter patency loss was 32% of catheters by 90 days. There was no significant difference in time to malfunction of catheters locked with low dose or high dose heparin (P = 0.5770). Time to catheter malfunction was not associated with diabetic, hypertensive or smoking status. There was no difference in mean delivered blood flow rate, venous and arterial pressure, and dialysis adequacy between low dose and high dose groups. No patient suffered a hemorrhagic complication requiring hospitalisation during the study period. Discussion Low dose heparin is adequate to maintain tunnelled hemodialysis catheter patency when compared with high dose heparin. The study also suggests that there is no relationship between catheter malfunction and diabetic, hypertensive or smoking status.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Introduction Heparin is commonly used after hemodialysis treatments as a locking solution to prevent catheter thrombosis. The comparative efficacy and safety of different heparin concentrations to maintain catheter patency has been previously reported in retrospective studies.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este ensayo controlado aleatorizado comparó heparina a dosis baja (1000 U/mL) frente a dosis alta (5000 U/mL) como soluciones de sellado para catéteres tunelizados de hemodiálisis en 100 pacientes durante 90 días, sin encontrar diferencias significativas en el tiempo hasta el mal funcionamiento del catéter, los flujos sanguíneos administrados, la adecuación de la diálisis ni las complicaciones hemorrágicas entre los grupos. Los autores concluyen que la dosis baja de heparina es adecuada para mantener la permeabilidad del catéter. Para el dominio de la ASH, este estudio aborda la dosificación de la solución anticoagulante de sellado para el mantenimiento de catéteres, un tema dentro de la práctica clínica de anticoagulación. No obstante, el estudio no contiene referencia alguna a sanguijuelas, hirudoterapia ni al secretoma de la sanguijuela, y cualquier relevancia para el dominio de la ASH se limita al contexto general del uso de heparina sin una conexión defendible con las sanguijuelas.
Citación
Low dose heparin lock (1000 U/mL) maintains tunnelled hemodialysis catheter patency when compared with high dose heparin (5000 U/mL): A randomised controlled trial.
Chu et al. · Hemodialysis international. International Symposium on Home Hemodialysis, 2016
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 28, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026