[The new heparins].

Low molecular weight heparins are increasingly prescribed in France. Prepared from standard heparin by depolymerisation, they show a markedly decreased anti IIa activity and a anti Xa/anti IIa ratio ranging from 2 to 4. Their mode of action in the coagulation system is still not well known and it is difficult to explain the mechanism of their antithrombotic effect, demonstrated in vivo. They seem to inhibit the first traces of thrombin and then counteract the priming and amplification of coagulation. Their fibrinolytic activity is also a disputed question, but seems to be lower than that of standard heparin. The pharmacological studies show a venous as well as arterial antithrombotic activity of a low molecular weight heparin on several animal models, a lower but not negligible bleeding risk as compared to unfractionated heparin. Furthermore heparin fragments have a weak interaction with platelets, which allow to foresee a greater efficacy of LMWH than standard heparin in arterial thrombosis. Some very rare cases of thrombocytopenia in patients treated with LMW heparins have been recently reported. The compared pharmacokinetics of heparins gave proof of a renal elimination of low molecular weight heparin and a bio availability of about 90% after subcutaneous injection. Many clinical studies allowed to define indications of heparin fragments in prophylactic treatment after surgery as well as in medical patients and in curative treatment in case of deep vein thrombosis. However, others studies must be carried out to define the real efficacy of such a treatment during pulmonary embolism, disseminated intravascular coagulation and myocardial infraction, or during thrombotic complications after vascular surgery.