Nadroparin calcium is a low molecular weight heparin with a mean molecular weight of 4.5 kD. Compared with unfractionated heparin, nadroparin calcium has a greater ratio of anti-factor Xa/anti-factor IIa activity. Nadroparin calcium has a longer half-life and greater bioavailability than unfractionated heparin and can be administered by subcutaneous injection once daily for prophylaxis and twice daily for treatment. In clinical trials, nadroparin calcium has been shown to be at least as effective as unfractionated heparin in preventing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) after various surgical procedures including major orthopaedic and abdominal surgery, and in maintaining the patency of the extracorporeal circulation in adults and children undergoing haemodialysis. Nadroparin calcium is well tolerated, the most common adverse event associated with its use being the development of minor haematoma at the operative incision site. In postmarketing surveillance data to date, the incidence of major haemorrhage related to nadroparin calcium use has been very low (< 1%). Nadroparin calcium has also been associated with a very low incidence of thrombocytopenia (< 0.001%). Thus, nadroparin calcium is an effective alternative to unfractionated heparin in the prophylaxis or treatment of thromboembolic venous events, with the advantages of more convenient administration and a lower incidence of thrombocytopenia.