IMR Press / FBL / Volume 21 / Issue 7 / DOI: 10.2741/4462

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Review

Heparin and anticoagulation

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1 Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8 St, Troy, NY 12180 USA
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2016, 21(7), 1372–1392; https://doi.org/10.2741/4462
Published: 1 June 2016
Abstract

Heparin, a sulfated polysaccharide, has been used as a clinical anticoagulant for over 90 years. Newer anticoagulants, introduced for certain specialized applications, have not significantly displaced heparin and newer heparin-based anticoagulants in most medical procedures. This chapter, while reviewing anticoagulation and these newer anticoagulants, focuses on heparin-based anticoagulants, including unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins and ultra-low molecular weight heparins. Heparin’s structures and its biological and therapeutic roles are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on heparin’s therapeutic application and its adverse effects. The future prospects are excellent for new heparins and new heparin-based therapeutics with improved properties.

Keywords
Heparin
Anticoagulation
Anticoagulants
Bovine Heparin
Bioengineered Heparin
Review
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