Different effects of heparin in males and females.

Abstract

Women showed alterations in the pharmacokinetics of heparin, which could explain a predisposition to bleeding complications. Under the heparin protocol used in this study, heparin doses were rapidly adjusted, which may explain why rates of bleeding complications and recurrent thromboembolism were similar in men and women. We do not recommend changes in heparin therapy based on these results, but suggest the use of protocols that assess coagulation parameters frequently and then adjust heparin doses rapidly, in order to individualize therapy. Further study is required to determine whether there are sex differences in bleeding complications associated with anticoagulant therapy, and to confirm the altered pharmacokinetics of heparin in women.