Dalteparin is a low molecular weight heparin

Low molecular weight heparin

In medicine, low-molecular-weight heparin is a class of medication used as an anticoagulant in diseases that feature thrombosis, as well as for prophylaxis in situations that lead to a high risk of thrombosis....

. It is marketed as Fragmin by Pfizer Inc

Pfizer

Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...

. Like other low molecular weight heparins, dalteparin is used for prophylaxis or treatment of deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep vein thrombosis commonly affects the leg veins or the deep veins of the pelvis. Occasionally the veins of the arm are affected...

 and pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary embolism is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream . Usually this is due to embolism of a thrombus from the deep veins in the legs, a process termed venous thromboembolism...

.

The CLOT study, published in 2003, showed that in patients with malignancy and acute venous thromboembolism, dalteparin was more effective than warfarin

Warfarin

Warfarin is an anticoagulant. It is most likely to be the drug popularly referred to as a "blood thinner," yet this is a misnomer, since it does not affect the thickness or viscosity of blood...

 in reducing the risk of recurrent embolic events. Dalteparin is not superior to unfractionated heparin in preventing blood clots.

Heparins are cleared by the kidneys, but studies have shown that dalteparin does not accumulate even if kidney function is reduced.