Application
Heparin is used under the following therapeutic aspects:
- Prevention (prevention) of thromboses and embolisms (e.g. after operations, as the risk of blood clots forming is particularly high in such cases)
- Therapy of acute embolisms (e.g. deep vein thrombosis of the leg, pulmonary embolism, vascular occlusion in case of heart attack)
Contraindications
At least very cautious treatment with heparin should be given to patients with
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Impaired renal function (renal insufficiency)
- Previous thrombocytopenia
- Internal bleeding
- Increased bleeding tendency (e.g. in cirrhosis of the liver, see: Clexane® and alcohol)
In addition to the coumarins already mentioned above (oral antocoagulants, i.e. anticoagulants that can be taken in tablet form), whose effect is based on a completely different mechanism, there are other substances that can inhibit blood clotting
- Fondaparinux – is a heparin analog (i.e.
has the same structure as heparin), which is produced synthetically (i.e. in the laboratory). It has the same mechanism of action as low molecular weight heparin (inhibition of coagulation factor X), but cannot be antagonized by protamine. Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia should not occur when using Fondaparinux.
- Hirudin and its derivatives (offspring) -they are derived from leeches and directly inhibit factor II of blood clotting. They are either produced synthetically or applied directly to patients by leeches. It is used, for example, in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia who cannot tolerate heparin but still require anticoagulant therapy.
