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Thromb Haemost 1992; 67(05): 556-562
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1648493
Original Articles
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

On the Relationship Between Molecular Mass and Anticoagulant Activity in a Low Molecular Weight Heparin (Enoxaparin)

Ana-Victoria Bendetowicz
1   The Department of Biochemistry, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
Elisabeth Pacaud
2   Centre de Recherches de Vitry, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, France
,
Suzette Béguin
1   The Department of Biochemistry, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
,
André Uzan
2   Centre de Recherches de Vitry, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, France
,
H Coenraad Hemker
1   The Department of Biochemistry, Rijksuniversiteit Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 04 June 1991

Accepted after revision 17 December 1991

Publication Date:
03 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

A low molecular weight heparin (enoxaparin, mean molecular weight ~ 4,400) was separated by gel chromatography into eight different fractions with a narrow distribution around the following mean molecular weights: 1,800, 2,400, 2,900, 4,200, 6,200, 8,600, 9,800 and 11,000. We compared the influence of enoxaparin on the generation of thrombin in plasma to that of the eight fractions.

We determined: a) the % of material with high affinity to antithrombin III (HAM) and the % of HAM above the critical chainlength necessary to allow for thrombin inhibition (ACLM), b) the specific catalytic activity on the decay of endogenous thrombin, and c) the inhibition of over-all thrombin formation in the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathway. From b and c we calculated the inhibition of prothrombin conversion in these pathways.

We found that a) there is a gradual decrease of the HAM fraction with decreasing molecular weight; b) the specific catalytic activity for the inactivation of thrombin does not vary significantly between the fractions when expressed in terms of ACLM; c) the potency to inhibit prothrombin conversion does not vary significantly between the fractions when expressed in terms of HAM.

 

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