Two studies have been done to establish recommendations for dosage and dose adjustment in the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH). In the first, 56 patients were randomized in a double blind study to be treated either with unfractionated heparin (UFH) or LMWH s.c. every 12 h. Initial doses were given according to age and sex, disregarding bodyweight, and the dose was then adjusted when the peak plasma heparin concentration fell outside the desired range of 0.5-0.8 anti-FXa U/ml. There were fewer dose adjustments in the LMWH group. The correlation between injected dose (U/kg bodyweight) and the heparin concentration was higher in the LMWH group (r = 0.59) than in the UFH group (r = 0.38). The results suggest that, in order to obtain the desired heparin concentration, the initial dose of LMWH should be about 100 U/kg bodyweight every 12 h. In the second, open study, this dosage plan was followed in 15 patients. The peak heparin concentration on Day 2 ranged from 0.40 to 0.75 anti-FXa U/ml and adjustment was only required in 3 patients. Day to day variation in peak heparin activity in the individual patient varied little (CV 11-22%), and there was no accumulation. The results indicate that plasma heparin concentration is more predictable using LMWH than UFH, and they point to definite advantages in the use of LMWH in a bodyweight adjusted dosage.

This study demonstrates a down-regulatory effect of statins on the chemokine network in CAD patients, possibly contributing to the beneficial effects of statins in this disorder.

In a double-blind study, patients with phlebographically proven deep venous thrombosis (DVT) were treated with subcutanous injections twice a day of either unfractionated heparin (UH; n = 27) or low molecular weight heparin (LH; n = 29) for 7 days, and the dose was adjusted until therapeutic range was reached, according to a chromogenic substrate anti-Xa assay. Forty-eight percent of the LH group did not need dose adjustment as compared to 24% of the UH group. During the course of heparin administration, deviation from initial heparin activity was frequent in both groups, but mean activity did not indicate a cumulative effect in either group. There was 1 incidence of pulmonary embolism (LH) and only 1 minor bleeding episode (UH). Half of the patients in both groups were phlebographically improved. We conclude that subcutaneous heparin treatment with UH or LH appears safe and convenient.

This paper deals with a population‐based material collected during the years 1990 – 1998, and comprises 439 tumours and tumour‐like vascular processes from 420 dogs. Anatomic location, age, breed and gender are reported. A distinction is made between benign neoplasms, tumours of intermediate malignancy, and obvious malignant processes (angiosarcomas). Clinical behaviour, comprising recurrence and metastatic disposition, is included. Subclassification is done according to criteria used in human oncology. More than one half (242 of 439) occurred in the skin, and a great majority of skin processes (223 of 242) represented benign tumours or tumour‐like lesions. The next most common site of summarised lesions was the spleen, with 110 cases, with only 17 processes in this organ being defined as benign. Splenic involvement was followed by the liver, with 13 out of 17 processes being angiosarcomas. Eleven of 12 heart tumours were angiosarcomas. A majority of skin haemangiomas was of the cavernous type (108 of 211), and more than one half (10 of 14) of the capillary haemangiomas were located on dorsal sites of the extremities. The mixed capillary/cavernous haemangiomas had a more diffuse distribution, although 20 of 31 were found in the skin of the hind limbs. Only one lymphangioma and one case of angiomatosis were observed. Most tumour‐like proliferations were papillary endothelial hyperplasias. Recurrence occurred in 17 dogs, some of which had received a primary benign diagnosis. Primary metastases were observed in 63 animals, the majority in the spleen and heart. Dissemination involved a further 23 cases (22 had angiosarcoma). The male/female rate of benign tumours was 0.78, for tumour‐like processes 1.83, intermediate malignant tumours 1.65, and angiosarcomas 1.60. With few exceptions, there was an overweight of all subclassified vascular lesions in animals more than 6 years of age.

No abstract