indication

Nadroparin is used for prophylaxis of thromboembolic disorders and general surgery in orthopedic surgery, treatment of deep vein thrombosis, prevention of clotting during hemodialysis and treatment of unstable angina and non-Q wave myocardial infarction

pharmacology

Nadroparin is a low molecular weight heparin that is composed of a heterogeneous mixture of sulfated polysaccaride glycosaminoglycan chains. Th mean molecular weight is approximately 4300 daltons. The ratio of anti-Xa activity to anti-IIa is 3.5:1 whereas it is about 1:1 for heparin. Its use should be avoided in patients with a creatinine clearance less than 40mL/min. In these patients, unfractionated heparin should only be used. As for monitoring, active partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) will only increase at high doses of low molecular weight heparins (LMWH). Therefore, monitoring aPTT is not recommended. However, anti-Xa activity can be measured to monitor the efficacy of the LMWH.

mechanism of action

The mechanism of action for nadroparin is similar to all other LMWHs. Like all LMWHs, nadroparin has a pentasaccharide sequence which binds to ATIII, which potentiates the action of ATIII. This complex greatly accelerates the inactivation of factor Xa and factor IIa. As a result, the coagulation cascade is inhibited.

toxicity

Osteopenia with extended use, skin necrosis, thrombocytosis, severe immunologically-mediated thrombocytopenia, eosinophilia (rare), calcinosis rarely occurs at the injection site, severe bleeding, transient elevation of liver transaminases.

biotransformation

Nadroparin is metabolized in the liver.

absorption

Absorption is linear. The bioavailability of nadroparin after subcutaneous administration is about 89%.

half life

In healthy patients, the half life is between 3.5hrs to 11.2hrs following subcutaneous administration.

route of elimination

Nadroparin is eliminated via the kidneys through non-saturable mechanisms.