Efficacy of CY 222 for providing anticoagulation during hemodialysis was evaluated in three successive trials by rating quality of blood restitution (degree of coagulum formation in extracorporeal circulation) and by assay of fibrinopeptide A. Its safety was assessed by measurement of manual compression time necessary to ensure hemostasis of puncture points at end of session. Details of the first preliminary study were: 60 sessions in 11 chronic uremia patients; CY 222: 75, 150 and 300 A-Xa IC U/kg + 1,000 A-Xa IC U/h, then 150 and 300 A-Xa IC U/kg without continuous injection, compared with standard heparin (SH) at the usual dosage for each patient (60 +/- 13 IU/kg). Results showed CY 222 at 150 U/kg + 1,000 U/h to possess the same efficacy as SH and to give a shorter compression test time: for 150 U/kg the efficacy was satisfactory, although less than with SH, and compression times were shorter (interest in patients at risk of hemorrhage). For 300 U/kg, efficacy was superior (improved restitution and lower FPA level at end of seance: 6 ng/ml instead of 15 ng/ml.p less than 0.002) and compression times were identical. The second study to evaluate optimal dosage of CY 222 in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) involved: 10 patients; CY 222: 200 A-Xa IC U/kg and 250 A-Xa IC U/kg by single-dose injection. Results failed to demonstrate any significant difference in evolution of FPA levels, but restitution was better at 250 U/kg. In addition, investigation of the effect of rinsing of ECC with standard heparin before the session showed that its suppression did not alter effectiveness but improved tolerance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)