Low Molecular Weight Heparin in the Treatment of Severe Acute Pancreatitis: A Multiple Centre Prospective Clinical Study

Objective To study the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods A total of 265 SAP patients were randomly divided into two groups: firstly, the conventional treatment group (C group, n = 130; and secondly the conventional treatment plus the LMWH treatment group (LT group, n = 135). The clinical parameters, laboratory parameters and computed tomography (CT) score of pancreatic necrosis (CTSPN) in the two groups were compared. Results On admission, all the clinical parameters, laboratory parameters and CTSPN in the two groups were not significantly different ( p > 0.05). However, after treatment, in LT group, the clinical presentation improvement rate and laboratory parameters improvement were significantly higher than those in C group ( p < 0.05–0.01), and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, complication rate, mortality and mean hospital stay in LT group were obviously lower than those in C group ( p < 0.05–0.01). The CT score in LT group was much lower than that in C group ( p < 0.05). Two weeks after treatment FBI decreased obviously in C group, but not in LT group, and no haemorrhagic complications occurred. Conclusions LMWH can enhance the effect of conventional treatment for SAP, and can markedly decrease the mortality of SAP. LMWH is a simple, safe, economic and effective method for treatment of SAP. It is can be used in every hospital.