In 14 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, we investigated the safety and efficacy of the low molecular fragment (CY-216) in comparison to unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the prevention of clotting in the extracorporeal circuit (ECC). In this study, 168 hemodialysis sessions were undertaken with UFH in 2 bolus doses (5,437 ± 1,477 SD IU) and 231 with CY-216 in a single bolus dose [initial dose 150 anti-Xa U Institut Choay (IC)&slash;kg]. There were no clots in the bubble trap in any UFH sessions, and 14.8% had coagulated fibers in the dialyzer. Clotting in the bubble trap was observed in 2 CY-216 sessions (0.8%) and coagulated fibers in 22.6% of the sessions. At the end of the study, the mean dose of CY-216 was 250 anti-Xa UlC/kg but a dose of 350 anti-Xa UlC/kg was needed in the 2 patients treated by recombinant human erythropoietin. Anti-Xa levels at the end of the runs were higher (0.47 ± 0.1 U/ml) in the CY-216 group than in the UFH group (0.28 ± 0.1 U/ml). There was a correlation between anti-Xa levels and efficacy in the CY-216 group. An anti-Xa activity above 0.4 U/ml was needed in order to minimize thrombus formation. Antithrombin III-protease complexes (ATM) and D dimer fibrin derivatives (D dimer) were used as thrombotic markers but they were of little value for the detection of fibrin formation in the ECC. Our findings suggest that CY-216 administered as a single bolus dose seems to be of similar effectiveness to U