Evaluation and Monitoring of Anticoagulation in Pediatric Patients Receiving Unfractionated Heparin on Regular Hemodialysis

Abstract

he dialysis population represents the only group of patients to receive heparin three times per week, with a potential long-term cumulative effect associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, aldosterone suppression and hyperkalemia, and a deterioration of lipid profile and endothelial function (Lavainne et al., 2014). Maintaining full patency in the extracorporeal circuit (ECC) during hemodialysis (HD) sessions is a prerequisite for optimal HD quality (Suranyi and Chow, 2010).