Pharmacokinetics of a low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) were studied in healthy volunteers. After an intravenous bolus injection of 5000 anti-Xa U in 5 healthy volunteers anti Xa activity disappeared according to the combination of saturable and a linear mechanism, preceded by a rapid initial disappearance. The apparent half-life of the anti Xa activity is about twice as long as that of standard heparin. In another set of experiments 5000 anti Xa U of LMWH were immediately followed by 50 mgr of Protamine Sulphate (PS). The curve of the anti Xa-activity parallelled the original curve at a level of about 30-40%. No rebound phenomenon was observed. The same dose of the LMWH followed by 100 mg of PS resulted in an anti Xa disappearance curve at an obvious higher level of about 50%. Also at this dose no rebound phenomenon was noticed.A continuous infusion of 10.000 anti Xa U/24 h during 10 hours was followed by 15.000 anti Xa U/24 h for another 10 hours after which the dose was raised to 20.000 anti Xa U/24 h for another 10 hours. Only the first infusion period resulted in a plateau fase. At the end of these experiments anti Xa activity was neutralized by 50 mg P.S. i.v. resulting in the disappearance of less than 50% of anti Xa activity. After subcutaneous administration of 15.000 anti Xa U (corresponding to the dose for i.v. treatment per day with this LMWH) peak levels of 1,1-1,8 anti Xa were reached after 3-4 hours. Supra-optimal anti Xa levels (higher than 0.9) were observed in all volunteers during a period of 5 hours. After 24 hours in none of the volunteers any anti Xa-activity could be detected.Conclusions:In contrast to previous reports pharmacokinetics of this LMWH do not essentially differ from those of standard heparin apart from its longer half-life and its high bioavialability after subcutaneous injection.