[Low molecular weight heparins]

The apparition in the 80's of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) obtained by chemical or enzymatical splitting, modified the fields of prophylactic treatment of thromboembolic diseases. These drugs present on heparin numerous advantages: equal antithrombotic activity with a smaller bleeding risk, higher bioavailability, longer pharmacokinetic, which simplify their use. The definite mode of action remains unknown, but LMWH act at different steps like coagulation (by AT III), fibrinolysis, blood cells, endothelial cells. Further, like heparin, they can be neutralized by protamine. However the right, simple, specific biological assay which presents a good correlation with the antithrombotic activity, remained to be established.