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Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Rapid Point-of-Care Assay of Enoxaparin Anticoagulant Efficacy in Whole Blood
Published on: October 12, 2012
Low Molecular Weight Heparin, Anti-inflammatory/Immunoregulatory and Antiviral Effects, a Short Update
Antonio Vitiello1, Francesco Ferrara2
1Pharmaceutical Department, Usl Umbria 1, XIV Settembre Street, 06132, Perugia, Italy.
Abstract:
Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is a glycosaminoglycan long known for its anticoagulant properties. In recent times, recent evidence has associated this drug with extra pleiotropic anticoagulant effects that have also proven useful in the management of the treatment of COVID-19 infection indicating that heparin may play other roles in the management of the disease in addition to the prevention of thrombosis. Clinical observations and in vitro studies support that heparin has a potential multi-target effect. To date, the molecular mechanisms of these pleiotropic effects are not fully understood. This brief review presents some of the evidence from clinical and animal studies and describes the potential molecular mechanisms by which heparin may exert its anti-inflammatory/immunoregulatory and antiviral effects.
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