The Use of Heparin
- 24 April 1969
- journal article
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 280 (17) , 937-938
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm196904242801706
Abstract
ALTHOUGH heparin is a widely accepted drug, there remains much confusion over its mode of action and over preferred routes of administration, dosage and regulation of therapy.Heparin, a potent organic acid, is a mixture of sulfate-containing mucopolysaccharides, with molecular weights ranging between 8000 and 15,000. Because of its strong electrostatic charge, heparin combines with a wide variety of proteins. Its anticoagulant action is a direct result of this property. It prevents the activation of clotting factor IX (PTC or Christmas factor), an essential component of the intrinsic coagulation mechanism. Furthermore, in conjunction with a plasma cofactor, it inhibits the . . .Keywords
This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: