Low molecular weight heparins: an introduction

Heparin fractions and fragments are useful tools in the elucidation of the mechanism of action of heparin and similar substances. The identification of portions with low or high affinity for antithrombin III and of a 'core' pentasaccharide responsible for anti-factor Xa activity has been possible thanks to heparin fractionation and fragmentation procedures. The development of low molecular weight heparins led to the production of substances with a molecular weight around 5,000, considerably variable in chemical structure, anti-factor Xa and anti-factor IIa activities, and experimental antithrombotic effects. The original rationale according to which fragments with high anti-factor Xa activity and anti-factor Xa/anti-factor IIa ratio would retain optimal antithrombotic activity with greatly reduced prohemorrhagic actions, turned out to be an oversimplification of the problem. In fact, neither is the anti-factor Xa activity the only determinant of the antithrombotic effect, nor is the anti-factor IIa activity a good predictor of hemorrhage. Despite disaggregation of the original rationale, low molecular weight heparins have already proved to be at least as effective and safe, and more conveniently and practically administered, as unfractionated heparin in the prophylaxis of deep-vein thrombosis.