Drug prophylaxis in atherosclerosis.
Heparin and heparinoids constitute the one drug group shown to arrest and reverse atherosclerotic changes in rabbits on a high cholesterol/fat diet. Little use has been made of this finding because heparin has been administered by routes which produce anticoagulation and thus bleeding. Inhalation once a fortnight results in a high concentration of heparin in endothelium with low plasma concentrations. No toxicity has been demonstrated with long term heparin but this is not true for heparinoids.
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006496:Heparinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D006496:Heparinoids; D006493:Heparin