A patient diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis is being treated with heparin. Which of the following test will you order to adjust its dosage?
Correct Answer: Activated partial thromboplastin time
Description: Heparin must be administered subcutaneously or intravenously, because the drug does not readily cross membranes. The LMWHs are administered subcutaneously.
Heparin is often initiated as an intravenous bolus to achieve immediate anticoagulation. This is followed by lower doses or continuous infusion of heparin, titrating the dose so that the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is 1.5- to 2.5-fold that of the normal control.
The half-life of heparin is approximately 1.5 hours, whereas the half-life of the LMWHs is longer than that of heparin, ranging from 3 to 12 hours.
Key Concept:
The aPTT is the standard test used to monitor the extent of anticoagulation with heparin.
Category:
Pharmacology
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now