title: Elements from in vitro studies that help understand the action of heparins.
abstract: In determining heparin one has the choice to test a specific activity, such as the decay constant of thrombin or factor Xa on a global test such as the aPTT. The best test would be a global test that directly reflects the only important global effect, to wit antithrombotic efficiency. Such a test does not yet exist. We propose that the thrombin potential, i.e. the time concentration integral of thrombin activity appearing in plasma after triggering is a plausible candidate for such a test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hemker
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Bendetowicz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Béguin
mesh_terms: D000990:Antithrombin III / Q000378:metabolism; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013917:Thrombin / Q000032:analysis*; D013925:Thromboplastin / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014894:Weights and Measures
chemical_list: D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D000990:Antithrombin III; D013925:Thromboplastin; D013917:Thrombin