💉 Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) Weight-Based Dosing

When to use

Choose an initial weight-based UFH regimen; subsequent rates are titrated by aPTT or anti-Xa and your institutional nomogram.

How it works

VTE: 80 U/kg bolus + 18 U/kg/h. ACS: 60 U/kg (max 4000) bolus + 12 U/kg/h (max 1000). Target aPTT 1.5–2.5× control or anti-Xa 0.3–0.7 IU/mL.

Key points

• Recheck aPTT 6 h after starting and after each rate change.
• Monitor platelets for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).
• Watch for bleeding and impaired renal function.
• Always titrate by your institution's nomogram.

References

• Raschke RA, et al. The weight-based heparin dosing nomogram. Ann Intern Med 1993

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