Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) Examples
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a generic medication without brand-name preparations commonly used in clinical practice - it is typically supplied as a standardized pharmaceutical preparation available from multiple manufacturers under the generic name "heparin" or "heparin sodium."
What UFH Is
UFH is a heterogeneous mixture of glycosaminoglycans with molecular weights ranging from 3,000 to 30,000 Da (mean ~15,000 Da) 1, 2. Unlike low-molecular-weight heparins (which have specific brand names like enoxaparin/Lovenox or dalteparin/Fragmin), UFH is marketed generically 3.
Clinical Formulations
UFH is available in two primary formulations for clinical use:
- Intravenous (IV) formulation: Used for continuous infusion or bolus administration
- Subcutaneous (SC) formulation: Used for intermittent injection 1
The medication is supplied in various concentrations (commonly 1,000 units/mL, 5,000 units/mL, 10,000 units/mL, and 20,000 units/mL) from multiple pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Standard Dosing Regimens
The guidelines consistently reference UFH by its generic name with specific dosing protocols 4, 3, 5:
For acute coronary syndromes:
- IV bolus: 60-80 U/kg (maximum 4,000-5,000 U)
- IV infusion: 12-18 U/kg/hour (maximum 1,000 U/hour initially)
- Target aPTT: 1.5-2.5 times control (50-70 seconds) 4, 5
For VTE treatment:
- IV: 80 U/kg bolus, then 18 U/kg/hour infusion
- SC: 333 U/kg initial dose, then 250 U/kg twice daily 3
For PCI procedures:
- 70-100 U/kg IV bolus (or 50-70 U/kg with GP IIb/IIIa inhibitor)
- Target ACT: 250-350 seconds 6
Key Clinical Point
Unlike newer anticoagulants that have proprietary brand names (enoxaparin, fondaparinux, bivalirudin), UFH remains a generic commodity medication identified simply as "heparin" or "unfractionated heparin" across all manufacturers and clinical settings 3, 2.