Recent investigations suggest that low molecular weight heparin may have advantages over conventional heparin with regard to the prevention of venous thrombosis and haemorrhagic side effects.High (HMW) and low (LMW) molecular weight heparin fractions with mean MWs of 16,000 and 8,800 respectively, obtained by gel filtration chromatography of sodium mucosal heparin (B. Braun Melsungen), were injected subcutaneously into six volunteers and compared with the unfractionated substance in a cross-over trial. Doses of 5,000 U were administered twice daily over a period of three days and heparin activity was controlled before injection and 2,4,8 hours afterwards by means of the APTT, the anti-Xa clotting test and a chromogenic substrate assay. In addition, the in vivo effect of fractionated heparin on platelet function was examined. The results show that the LMW fraction induced markedly higher anti-Xa activity than the other preparations. At the same time, APTT results did not significantly differ. Unfractionated heparin and the HMW fraction enhanced ADP-induced platelet aggregation and collagen-mediated MDA-production, while the LMW fraction hardly affected these assays, but potently inhibited thrombin-induced MDA production. All heparin preparations stimulated the release of PF IV, whereas the serotonin content of platelets determined at the same time increased.It is concluded that s.c. injections of LMW heparin induce relatively high levels of anti-Xa activity without leading to sensitive platelet activation or to major effects on overall clotting tests.
