What is it about?
Hemodialysis patients routinely receive heparin, often low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), during dialysis, to avoid blood clotting. The hypothesis is put forward that the lower than expected incidence of COVID-19 infection in hemodialysis patients could be due to this treatment. LMWH has antiviral properties and it is used in COVID-19 patients to prevent or circumvent the activation of the coagulation cascade induced by inflammation. The main adverse reactions of LMWH therapy are discussed.
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Why is it important?
LMWH is already used in hemodialysis patients, so the connection between LMWH use and the low incidence of COVID-19 infection in this population is made.
Perspectives
If proven, LMWH could be used at even higher dosages, in this pandemic period, paying attention to its adverse reactions.
Alessandra Perna
University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: COVID-19, Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin, and Hemodialysis, Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, January 2020, Karger Publishers,
DOI: 10.1159/000508460.
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