Efficacy of low molecular weight heparin on severe pneumonia in elderly patients with high level of D-dimer

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of low molecular weight heparin in the treatment of severe pneumonia in elderly patients with high D-dimer. Methods Eighty-nine cases of severe pneumonia with high level of D-dimer were randomly divided into two groups. The experiment group was given subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin 5000 IU/d for 5 to 7 days. The control group was given conventional therapy. Artery Blood oxygen pressure(PaO2) in arterial blood and C-reactive protein concentration(CRP),D-dimer before and after treatment were measured. The fatality rate and adverse drug reactions were observed. Results After anticoagulant therapy, PaO2 in the experimental group had a more significant improvement than that in the control group[(77.4±12.9)mmHg vs (62.8±12.3) mmHg,P0.05]. The level of D-dimer in the experiment group had a more significant decrease than that in the control group[(0.66±0.38) mg/L vs (1.19±0.55) mg/L,P0.01].The experiment group had shorter hospital stay(days) and lower cost of hospitalization than the control group. There was no statistical difference in the fatality rate between two groups (9.09 % vs 20.45%,P0.05).The adverse drug reactions were few and mild in both groups. Conclusions Low molecular weight heparin is effective and safe to severe pneumonia in elderly patients.