Plasma lipolytic activity after subcutaneous administration of heparin and a low molecular weight heparin fragment

The effect of heparin and a low molecular weight heparin fragment (LMWH, mean molecular weight 4000-6000) on plasma anticoagulation and lipolysis was studied in eight healthy men. The activities of antifactor Xa (antiFXa), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL) and plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFA) were analysed after the injection of 5000 antiFXa units of heparin or LMWH subcutaneously. In comparison with heparin, the administration of LMWH resulted in a significantly higher antiFXa activity (p less than 0.001) but a lower release of LPL and HL (p less than 0.001), which did not increase plasma FFA. It is concluded that subcutaneous injection of LMWH in men elicits an adequate anticoagulant effect measured as antiFXa activity but has a negligible effect on plasma lipolytic activity.