I'm taking pharmacology and am very confused with Heparin. Our teacher (who is a pharmacist) lectured in class, stating that Heparin (unfractionated) is used for prevention of blood clots. There is also another class of Heparin which consists of LMWH (ex: Lovenox). She said this can be used for prevention AND activity (with more emphasis on Factor Xa, which is a clotting factor), for example, surgical prophylaxis and active DVT. But I'm not sure what "activity" she is referring to, because she said that it is not a thrombolytic, which lyses blood clots. To me, "activity" means that it lyses the clot. My questions are:
1.) If LMWH is used for "activity", and for active PE, what exactly does it do, if it doesn't lyse the clot?
2.) IV heparin is used for clots. Does this mean Lovenox can be used in the IV?
Thank you!
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Hello:
I'm taking pharmacology and am very confused with Heparin. Our teacher (who is a pharmacist) lectured in class, stating that Heparin (unfractionated) is used for prevention of blood clots. There is also another class of Heparin which consists of LMWH (ex: Lovenox). She said this can be used for prevention AND activity (with more emphasis on Factor Xa, which is a clotting factor), for example, surgical prophylaxis and active DVT. But I'm not sure what "activity" she is referring to, because she said that it is not a thrombolytic, which lyses blood clots. To me, "activity" means that it lyses the clot. My questions are:
1.) If LMWH is used for "activity", and for active PE, what exactly does it do, if it doesn't lyse the clot?
2.) IV heparin is used for clots. Does this mean Lovenox can be used in the IV?
Thank you!