Low Molecular Weight Heparin Treatment Decreases MMP-9 Plasma Activity in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

MMP-9 zymograms of AAA control group (panel A) and LMWH-treated AAA patients (panel B). Each band represents one individual's plasma sample, displaying MMP-9-specific activity, with the band thickness corresponding to the MMP-9 amount/activity. Each rectangle in panel B contains a pair of MMP-9 bands from one individual' plasma samples, before and after LMWH treatment, respectively. The calculated MMP-9 concentration (ng/ml) was shown in panel C. Squares represent patients from AAA control group, whereas circles represent LMWH-treated patients before (open circles) and after treatment (filled circles). In each group mean values have been shown as solid lines and median values are represented by dotted lines. NS – non significant.