Low Molecular Weight Heparin in the Treatment of Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Multiple Centre Prospective Clinical Study

Abstract

To study the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods: A total of 265 SAP patients were randomly divided into two groups: firstly, the conventional treatment group (C group, n = 130; and secondly the conventional treatment plus the LMWH treatment group (LT group, n = 135). The clinical parameters, laboratory parameters and computed tomography (CT) score of pancreatic necrosis (CTSPN) in the two groups were compared. Results: On admission, all the clinical parameters, laboratory parameters and CTSPN in the two groups were not significantly different (p > 0.05). However, after treatment, in LT group, the clinical presentation improvement rate and laboratory parameters improvement were significantly higher than those in C group (p < 0.05–0.01), and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, complication rate, mortality and mean hospital stay in LT group were obviously lower than those in C group (p < 0.05–0.01). The CT score in LT group was much lower than that in C group (p < 0.05). Two weeks after treatment FBI decreased obviously in C group, but not in LT group, and no haemorrhagic complications occurred. Conclusions: LMWH can enhance the effect of conventional treatment for SAP, and can markedly decrease the mortality of SAP. LMWH is a simple, safe, economic and effective method for treatment of SAP. It is can be used in every hospital.

Keywords

• low molecular weight heparin
• prospective clinical study
• severe acute pancreatitis