RESUMEN
A monoclonal antibody to polysulphated polysaccharides was prepared and used in a plasma assay for heparin. The antibody reacted with heparin and semisynthetic heparin-like substances including dextran sulphate, pentosan polysulphate, and glycosaminoglycan polysulphate. The analytical method used a biotin-labeled monoclonal antibody in a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of heparin and heparin-like substances obtained by the assay correlated with those of a method based on the inhibition of Factor Xa, but were numerically different (y = -0.1747 + 1.0848x; p2 = 0.844). The assay could detect heparin and heparin-like substances in solution at a submicrogram or milliunit level, which suggested that it was suitable for pharmacokinetic studies of hepain and polysulfaled polysaccharides. The heparin concentrations in plasma from thalassemic patients, either with or without epitaxis, were not statistically different from those of normal subjects.