ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the characteristics and proper use of anticoagulants in hemodialysis (HD). Methods Thirty-one HD patients were enrolled in the study. Unfractionated heparins (UFH), dalteparin sodium or argatroban were used for HD anticoagulation respectively. Blood specimens were taken from the arterial line at the beginning (0 h) and at the end of HD (4 h), and from the arterial (2a) and the venous (2v) line respectively at 2 h of the HD session. Glass bead activated clotting time (gbACT), clot rate (CR) and platelet function (PF) were examined by Sonoclot analyzer. Prothrombin fragment 1+2 (PF1+2) and granule membrane protein-140 (GMP-140) were assayed by ELISA. Meanwhile, blood was taken from 8 healthy volunteers to examine the above parameters as control. Results (1) Compared with the control group, CR, PF1+2, PF, GMP-140 were increased significantly in all the patients (P<0.05). (2) UFH group:Compared with the 0 h point, gbACT of other time points increased significantly (P<0.05), CR, PF, and PF1+2 decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, gbACT increased (P<0.05) and CR decreased (P<0.05) significantly at the end of the sessions. (3) Daheparin sodium group: Compared with the 0 h point, gbACT of 2a point increased significantly (P<0.05), CR and PF1+2 of 2a, 2v and 4 h points decreased significantly (P<0.05), meanwhile, the extents of increased gbACT and decreased CR from the arterial line were greater than those from the venous line. Compared with the control group, gbACT increased significantly at the end of HD session (P<0.05), but CR was not significantly different. (4) Argatroban group: There were no significant differences of gbACT between 0 h and other time points. CR of 2a, 2v points decreased obviously than that of 0 h point, and CR of 2v decreased more significantly. CR of 2a point was not different from the control group, while CR of 4 h point was greater as compared to control group. During the monitoring, PF1 +2 tended to increase. Conclusions With intensive anticoagulant effect, UFH may induce the risk of hemorrhage not only during but also after the dialysis sessions. Dalteparin sodium, a good anticoagulant, is stir related with the risk of hemorrhage during HD. Argatroban is an ideal anticoagulant for patients with the risk of hemorrhage.