Heparin-related osteoporosis in rats. A comparative study between unfractioned heparin and a low-molecular-weight heparin.
In an animal model, the effect of a high dose of conventional heparin (2 IU/g s.c. twice a day) and a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH; Fragmin, 1 anti-Xa U/g once a day) was compared with that of placebo on the mineral bone mass in the femur of rats. After 33 days of treatment no differences were found in the weight of the femur. But heparin-treated rats exhibited a lower density (1,249 +/- 0.046 g/ml as compared with that in control rats (p = 0.00007) and also in LMWH-treated rats (p = 0.001). Similarly, statistically significant differences have been found in ash contents. They were higher in control rats than in heparin-treated rats (p = 0.0002), and also slightly higher than in LMWH-treated rats (p = 0.01). Our findings suggest that LMWH may have a lower osteopenic effect than that of conventional heparin.
Monreal
M
M
Unit of Experimental Thrombosis, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, España.
Viñas
L
L
Monreal
L
L
Lavin
S
S
Lafoz
E
E
Angles
A M
AM
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D006493:Heparin