Low molecular weight heparin for acute ischaemic stroke

Low molecular weight heparin has been trialled for the treatment of acute ischaemic stroke:

• 312 patients within 48 hours of onset of ischaemic stroke
• randomised to 4100 U of LMWH once or twice daily or placebo
• treated for 10 days
• followed for 6 months

The rates of mortality or dependency at 6 months were:

• 45% for the twice daily LMWH group
• 52% for the once daily LMWH group
• 65% for the placebo group

The rates of haemorrhagic transformation were the same.

Reference:

• Kay, R. et al. (1995). Low-molecular-weight heparin for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. NEJM, 333, 1588-93.