The Use of Heparin

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 . . .