Which anticoagulant is commonly used in hemodialysis?

Which anticoagulant is commonly used in hemodialysis?

• A. Warfarin
• B. Heparin
• C. Aspirin
• D. Enoxaparin

Answer: (B)

When blood is outside the body in a dialysis circuit, it tends to clot on the artificial surfaces. To prevent that, an anticoagulant is given during the session. The most commonly used agent is unfractionated heparin because it acts quickly when given intravenously and has a short duration, so the effect can be stopped or reversed with protamine if needed. This helps keep the circuit patent without causing prolonged bleeding after dialysis ends. Warfarin is a long-term oral anticoagulant that takes days to work and isn’t suitable for an acute dialysis session. Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug and doesn’t reliably prevent circuit clotting. Enoxaparin can be used in some settings, but unfractionated heparin is the standard due to immediate titratability and reversibility.

When blood is outside the body in a dialysis circuit, it tends to clot on the artificial surfaces. To prevent that, an anticoagulant is given during the session. The most commonly used agent is unfractionated heparin because it acts quickly when given intravenously and has a short duration, so the effect can be stopped or reversed with protamine if needed. This helps keep the circuit patent without causing prolonged bleeding after dialysis ends. Warfarin is a long-term oral anticoagulant that takes days to work and isn’t suitable for an acute dialysis session. Aspirin is an antiplatelet drug and doesn’t reliably prevent circuit clotting. Enoxaparin can be used in some settings, but unfractionated heparin is the standard due to immediate titratability and reversibility.