ABSTRACT
Although heparin and its properties had been discovered in the early 1920s, the different
characteristics associated with different molecular-weight fractions of heparin were
only recognized in the late 1970s. Tinzaparin is a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH)
produced by heparinase digestion of heparin. Preclinical research on tinzaparin established
that there were no differences in the antithrombotic activity compared with heparin.
Clinical studies evaluating tinzaparin vs. standard heparin for thromboprophylaxis
of deep-vein thrombosis in general and orthopedic surgery found that tinzaparin was
as effective as standard heparin. Tinzaparin was also evaluated vs. standard heparin
in the treatment of acute proximal vein thrombosis; time-to-event curves suggested
that this LMWH could be more effective than standard heparin.
KEYWORD
Tinzaparin - development - thromboprophylaxis - treatment of deep-vein thrombosis
