Certoparin for the treatment and prevention of thrombosis: pharmacological profile and results from clinical studies

Introduction: Several low-molecular-weight heparins are available for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis. Certoparin has been extensively tested in different clinical settings for about 20 years. Areas covered: The authors provide a drug evaluation based on literature searches performed through Medline. Specifically, the authors review studies on the pharmacological characteristics of certoparin and the clinical trial and post-marketing studies in the field of venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, the authors also review the available smaller studies performed in clinical settings for indications such as stroke, atrial fibrillation, and hemodialysis. Expert opinion: Certoparin has proved to be effective and safe therapy for preventing venous thromboembolism in different surgical and medical settings. With regards to DVT treatment, certoparin shows the peculiar feature of being used at a fixed, weight-independent dose (subcutaneous 8000 IU twice daily). Unfortunately, certoparin has no specific data from clinical trials on treatment of pulmonary embolism. Furthermore, certoparin has not been specifically tested in unusual site thrombosis. Certoparin represents a valid option for venous thromboembolism prevention and DVT treatment. Further studies are also required to provide data on the use of certoparin to treat acute pulmonary embolisms and to further substantiate results on atrial fibrillation and bridging therapy.