Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Rapid Point-of-Care Assay of Enoxaparin Anticoagulant Efficacy in Whole Blood
Published on: October 12, 2012
Extracorporeal circuit heparinization in selective low density lipoprotein apheresis: changes in patient hemostasis
J L Lorenzini1, F Dutrillaux, C Mousson
1Laboratoire d'Hématologie, CHU Hôpital du Bocage, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France.
Treatment by low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis using dextran sulfate columns (DSC) leads to hemostasis alterations with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of more than 120 seconds. In order to explain this hypocoagulability, we studied hemostasis parameters both in patients and in the extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Hemostasis changes are first related to unfractionated heparin (UFH)--needed to avoid circuit coagulation--which leads to high residual heparinemia in the patient (more than 3 times the recommended level for therapeutic use). Second, the hypocoagulability is induced by a coagulation factor decrease (primarily factors V, VIII, and X) mainly due to an adsorption mechanism on dextran sulfate. Studies on samples from column inflow, outflow, and eluate confirm this mechanism. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) can be used in LDL apheresis on DSC without major changes in lipid removal or coagulation factors compared to UFH. The benefit of using LMWH is to reduce residual heparinemia into the therapeutic range.
Treatment by low density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis using dextran sulfate columns (DSC) leads to hemostasis alterations with prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) of more than 120 seconds. In order to explain this hypocoagulability, we studied hemostasis parameters both in patients and in the extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Hemostasis changes are first related to unfractionated heparin (UFH)--needed to avoid circuit coagulation--which leads to high residual heparinemia in the patient (more than 3 times the recommended level for therapeutic use). Second, the hypocoagulability is induced by a coagulation factor decrease (primarily factors V, VIII, and X) mainly due to an adsorption mechanism on dextran sulfate. Studies on samples from column inflow, outflow, and eluate confirm this mechanism. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) can be used in LDL apheresis on DSC without major changes in lipid removal or coagulation factors compared to UFH. The benefit of using LMWH is to reduce residual heparinemia into the therapeutic range.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Pathways of Hemostasis
The Extrinsic Pathway
The extrinsic pathway of coagulation is typically initiated by tissue damage that exposes blood to tissue factor (TF), a protein released by the damaged tissue cells outside the blood vessels—this interaction with TF triggers biochemical reactions involving specific clotting factors. The key player here is Factor VII, which forms a...
Extracorporeal Removal of Drugs: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Hemodialysis I: Introduction
Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications

