An Antichylomicronemic Substance Produced by Heparin Injection.

SummaryThe injection of heparin (50 mg intravenous) in the human causes a sudden fall in surface tension and a clearing of the lipemic plasma. The effect is believed to be due to the formation of a surface active heparin-phospholipid complex. The activity of the complex may be studied in vitro by mixing lipemic plasma with non-turbid plasma obtained after heparin injection. A gradual clearing is observed. The formation of a surface active heparin-egg lecithin complex has been demonstrated. Certain relations of these findings to pathological conditions are discussed.