Placental transfer of glycosaminoglycans in the human perfused placental cotyledon model

Abstract Placental transfer of unfractionated heparin (UH), of low molecular weight heparin CY 216 (LMWH) and of Dermatan sulphate (DS) was studied using the human perfused placental cotyledon model. Two different techniques were used to assess the transfer: labelled molecules and biological activities as measured by antifactor Xa or antifactor IIa activities. No biological activity was present in the fetal circulation, for any of the drugs used; however, very low fractions of the perfused radioactivity were recorded, 0.76% ± 0.36%, 1.46% ± 1.44% and 2.37% ± 0.89% for DS, UH and LMWH, respectively.