Heparin is a naturally occurring anticoagulant that has a weight ranging from 3000 to 30 000 Da. It acts by binding antithrombin III that goes on to inactivate factor Xa. Heparin is mainly used for the treatment of venous thrombosis and prevention of thrombosis and embolism following a post-op of cardiac surgery. It accelerates the neutralization of coagulation factors by antithrombin, inhibiting further clotting from occurring as well as any progression of current clots from forming. It is administered intravenously or subcutaneous injection as heparin cannot be taken orally due to the gastrointestinal tract being unable to absorb it. Heparin is eliminated mainly through filtration by the kidneys and a small percentage eliminated through the urine. It possesses a half-life of 1.5 hours and has a clearance rate of 0.43ml/kg/min. Some side effects include heparin-induced-thrombocytopenia caused by a loss in platelet count and the chance of a clot becoming dislodged and obstructing a blood vessel. Overdose of heparin can result in excessive bleeding, while some correlation has been made with therapeutic doses of heparin and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis induced by heparin is seen to be reversible once the heparin use has been discontinued.

Heparin Pathway References