Antithrombotic therapy in phlebopathies of lower limbs: a controlled study of low molecular weight heparin versus heparin calcium.

A study was made of 60 patients, 28 males and 32 females, with an average age of 62 years (range 52 - 81) suffering from phlebopathies of various etiology and pathogenesis in the lower limbs, treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) or with standard heparin calcium. Posology was decided on the basis of the type of phlebopathy: the group treated with LMWH (30 patients) were administered one 7500, 15000 or 30000 AXaU vial/day sc; the comparison group were administered one or two 12500 IU vials/day sc of heparin calcium. Treatment lasted for 60 days. During treatments the symptoms and the clinical signs showed clear improvement in both groups, in a parallel and substantially analogous way. In all patients there was a discrete improvement in venous functioning, as shown by the drop in recumbent and erect venous pressure. Systemic tolerance was good. The only difference between the two treatments was represented by the local tolerance, which was markedly better in the group treated with LMWH.