Treatment of deep leg vein thrombosis

The management of established thrombosis has been transformed by low molecular weight heparins. Their pharmacokinetics and dynamics allow them to be given subcutaneously in a dose determined by body weight alone. While this permits treatment of selected patients at home, great care is needed. The correct diagnosis remains essential because the risks of early recurrence and bleeding are little different from those observed with standard heparin. Symptomatic calf vein thrombosis should be treated.