Are low molecular weight heparins preferred to unfractionated heparin in people with renal impairment for treatment indications? Prepared by UK Medicines Information (UKMi) pharmacists for NHS healthcare professionals

Background The National Patient Safety Agency issued a rapid response report in July 2010 aimed at reducing treatment dose errors with low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) (1). This states: “incident reports indicate patients renal function is often not taken into consideration when prescribing treatment doses of LMWHs. Not considering renal function was the leading causes of error resulting in serious medication incidents involving LMWHs, in patient safety reporting programmes in the USA” (1)