Dalteparin anticoagulation in paediatric home haemodialysis

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dalteparin is a safe and effective anticoagulant for paediatric home haemodialysis (HD) and to assess the determinants of dosing.

Data were collected for all children (< 18 years) undergoing home HD from 2011 to 2017 at one large paediatric nephrology centre in the UK. All children had anticoagulation with dalteparin sodium according to a standardised protocol. Dalteparin safety was assessed by monitoring for accumulation, adequate clearance of dalteparin and adverse events. Dalteparin efficacy was assessed through monitoring for clot formation in dialysis circuits. Potential determinants of dalteparin dosing were assessed.

Eighteen children were included, their median age at start was 12 years, and 50% were male. Eighty-three percent of children had four home HD sessions each week, with a median total dialysis hours of 20 h/week. Thirty-three percent of children had nocturnal home HD. Median dalteparin dose at 12-month follow-up was 40 IU/kg (range 8–142 IU/kg). Factors associated with higher dalteparin dosing requirements included a younger age of the child (p < 0.01), a lower blood flow rate (p < 0.01) and the use of a central venous line for dialysis access (p = 0.038). No children had evidence of bioaccumulation of dalteparin or inadequate clearance. No significant bleeding or adverse events were reported.

Dalteparin is a safe and effective anticoagulant when used for paediatric home HD. In this study, there was no evidence of bioaccumulation or significant adverse events. Further research is required to directly compare dalteparin with unfractionated heparin (UFH) and evaluate anticoagulant choice for paediatric home HD.