Treatment of deep vein thrombosis with continuous intravenous infusion of LMWH in children--an alternative to subcutaneous application when needed.
Incidence of thrombosis is age dependent with the lowest risk in the childhood. Children mostly suffer from vein thrombosis. Incidence of thrombosis in children is only 0.07/10,000, but it increases among hospitalized children (3.5/10,000). Subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is preferred treatment of deep vein thrombosis in children. In this study we present group of 33 children with deep vein thrombosis, who were treated with LMWH for their first thrombosis from 2003 till 2006. Twenty-one (63.6%) patients were treated with LMWH by continuous infusion and 12 (36.3%) patients by subcutaneous injection. Duration of the treatment with LMWH was modified in accordance with the course of thrombosis (monitored by Doppler ultrasound with compression) with median of 15 days in patients treated by continuous infusion and 18.5 days when treated subcutaneously. Median dose of LMWH for intravenous and subcutaneous application was 240 IU/kg/24 h and 215 IU/kg/24 h respectively. The administered dose of LMWH was modified to achieve and maintain required therapeutic antiXa level within the range of 0.5-1 IU/ml. The treatment with continuous infusion led to total recanalisation of the occluded vein in 3 cases (14.3%), partial recanalisation was achieved in 15 (71.4%) patients. Three (14.3%) patients were without any recanalisation. The treatment by subcutaneous injection led to total recanalisation of the vein in 4 cases (33.3%), partial recanalisation was seen in 4 (33.3%) patients. Four (33.3%) patients were without any recanalisation. The difference in the outcomes of the therapy between both groups appears to be statistically significant (p = 0.041, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test). We have not noticed any severe adverse event of the treatment in any of our patients. Our results support the hypothesis that the treatment of DVT with continuous infusion of LMWH might be efficient and safe alternative to subcutaneous application in those children in whom we want to avoid subcutaneous administration from certain reasons.