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Heparin: A drug of varying composition and effectiveness
Author(s) -
Coon William W.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1978232139
Subject(s) - heparin , drug , coagulation , thrombosis , medicine , composition (language) , mechanism (biology) , anticoagulant , pharmacology , intensive care medicine , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology
In the past few years concerns have been expressed by clinical investigators regarding the variable and unpredictable risk of both hemorrhage and thrombosis in patients receiving heparin. Recent observations tend to indicate that a number of elements may contribute to variability in response to heparin. Possible factors which may be responsible include differences in chemical composition and in methods of assay, variable absorption, different types and degrees of alteration in coagulation mechanism of patients, and inaccuracies or inadequacies in methods for monitoring therapy.