Heparin: What you need to know

Heparin: What you need to know
By Sue Mueller
Feb 19, 2008 - 9:55:34 AM

Editor's note: Baxter's heparin has been linked to four deaths and hundreds of allergic reactions. It was suspected that these incidents have something to do with an active ingredient used in heparin. The ingredient of concern is manufactured in a Chinese factory which has not been ever inspected by the Food and Drug administration. The FDA plans to inspect the manufacturing facility this week.

Here we compiled some basics about heparin to help those who are interested in more details understand the drug.

What is heparin?

Heparin is a heterogeneous group of straight-chain anionic mucopolysaccharides, called glycosaminoglycans that have anticoagulant properties. It has the highest negative charge density of any known biological molecule.

Heparin is widely used as an injectable anticoagulant and can also be used to form an inner anticoagulant surface on various experiments and medical devices such as test tubes and renal dialysis machines.

How is heparin prepared?

Pharmaceutical grade heparin is a natural product that is commonly isolated from mucosal tissues of slaughtered meat animals such as porcine intestine or bovine lung.

How is heparin administered?

Heparin sodium injection is administered intermittently by intravenous or deep subcutaneous routes, but not the intramuscular route because of the frequent occurrence of hematoma at the injection site.

What are the medical applications for heparin?

Heparin is used to prevent and treat thrombosis and embolism of various types and often used to prevent clotting in arterial and cardiac surgery. It may also be used as an anticoagulant in blood transfusions, extracorporeal circulation and dialysis procedures and in preparation of blood samples in laboratories.

What are the common side effects of heparin?

Hemorrhage or bleeding: Bleeding is the major complication associated with heparin therapy. This includes adrenal hemorrhage, ovarian hemorrhage, and retroperitoneal hemorrhage.

Irritation: Heparin can cause local irritation, erythema, mild pain, hematoma or ulceration after deep subcutaneous (intrafat) injection of heparin sodium.

Hypersensitivity: Common symptoms of hypersensitivity associated with use of heparin include chills, fever, and urticaria. Other less common symptoms are asthma, rhinitis, lacrimation, headache, nausea and vomiting. Itching and burning may be felt on the plantar side of the feet.

Thrombocytopenia: Mild thrombocytopenia has been reported in patients receiving heparin at a rate of 0 to 30%. Thrombocytopenia may occur along with thromboembolic complications potentially leading to severe consequences such as amputation, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, stroke and death.

Other side effects include osteoporosis and significant increase in aminotransferase (SGOT and SGPT) in many patients receiving heparin.

What are symptoms associated with overdosing heparin?

Overdoses of heparin can cause bleeding with signs such as nosebleeds, blood in urine or tarry stools.

For more information, read wikipedia and rxlist.com

http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/D_rug_N_ews_50/021909552008_Heparin_What_you_need_to_know.shtml