low-molecular-weight heparin

Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is a class of anticoagulant medications derived from heparin, characterized by shorter polysaccharide chains. In a clinical trial led by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NCT01315093), LMWH was evaluated for its potential to improve pregnancy outcomes in women classified as poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Beyond its classical anticoagulant mechanism—which involves binding to antithrombin III to accelerate the inhibition of Factor Xa and thrombin—LMWH is hypothesized to influence the maternal-fetal interface by improving endometrial blood flow, reducing inflammation, and promoting trophoblast invasion and adhesion. This specific application targets women who have previously shown a poor response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, aiming to increase implantation rates and overall pregnancy success.

Other names

LMWHHeparin, Low-Molecular-Weight