Low-molecular-weight heparin
Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a class of anticoagulant medications. They are used in the prevention of blood clots and treatment of venous thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) and in the treatment of myocardial infarction.

Heparin is a naturally occurring polysaccharide that inhibits coagulation, the process that leads to thrombosis. Natural heparin consists of molecular chains of varying lengths, or molecular weights. Chains of varying molecular weights, from 5000 to over 40,000 Daltons, make up polydisperse pharmaceutical-grade heparin. LMWHs, in contrast, consist of only short chains of polysaccharide. LMWHs are defined as heparin salts having an average molecular weight of less than 8000 Da and for which at least 60% of all chains have a molecular weight less than 8000 Da. These are obtained by various methods of fractionation or depolymerisation of polymeric heparin.

Heparin derived from natural sources, mainly porcine intestine or bovine lung, can be administered therapeutically to prevent thrombosis. However, the effects of natural, or unfractionated heparin are more unpredictable than LMWH.
Q215118
anticoagulant
Concept
Q12140
medications
Concept
Q25326635
blood clots
Concept
Q2751330
venous thromboembolism
Concept
Q1762339
deep vein thrombosis
Concept
Q220570
pulmonary embolism
Concept
Q12152
myocardial infarction
Concept
Q190016
Heparin
Concept
Q134219
polysaccharide
Concept
Q179217
coagulation
Concept
Q182854
molecular weight
Concept
Q483261
Daltons
Concept
Q906487
depolymerisation
Concept
Q2750727
Low-molecular-weight heparin
Concept
5000-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
5000
DATE
8000-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
8000
DATE
8000-01-01T00:00:00Z^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#dateTime
8000
DATE
+60^^http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#decimal
60
NUMBER
subject has role
subclass of
subclass of
subclass of