REVIEW article
Front. Pharmacol.
Sec. Cardiovascular and Smooth Muscle Pharmacology
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fphar.2025.1585762
Multifunctional Applications and Research Advances of Low Molecular Weight Heparin
Provisionally accepted
- 1School of Medicine, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, China
- 2Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, Henan Province, China
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Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a class of anticoagulant drugs derived from the controlled depolymerization of heparin. Compared to unfractionated heparin (UFH), LMWH possesses a lower molecular weight and a shorter glycan chain length, resulting in higher bioavailability and a more predictable pharmacokinetic profile, and consequently, a more convenient administration route. These characteristics make LMWH a primary choice for thromboprophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis. LMWH is clinically indicated for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolic diseases. Its role in obstetric complications, inflammation modulation, and antitumor therapy is also increasingly being recognized. The objective of this review is to systematically summarize the progress of LMWH research and to thoroughly explore its mechanisms of action and clinical indications. By analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of LMWH, evaluating its safety and adverse reactions, discussing the challenges in its clinical application, and proposing future research directions, this review aims to promote the application and development of LMWH in a broader range of fields.
Keywords: low molecular weight heparin, Anticoagulant effect, clinical application, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, personalized treatment
Received: 01 Mar 2025; Accepted: 24 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhang, Guo and Xu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: YanRu Zhang, School of Medicine, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.