Heparin: pharmacological potentials from atherosclerosis to asthma.
1. Heparin belongs to a family of polysaccharide species, whose best known property is, undoubtedly, anticoagulant activity. However, heparin has many other pharmacological effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system. 2. The therapeutic use of chronically inhaled heparin has been suggested as prophylaxis in atherosclerosis. 3. Heparin, physiologically stored in mast cells of the respiratory system, has also been recently studied in the prevention of immunological and non-immunological asthmatic attacks. 4. Experimental findings and new hypotheses of heparin action in asthma and atherosclerosis are discussed.
Ragazzi
E
E
Department of Pharmacology, University of Padova, Italy.
Chinellato
A
A
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans
D006493:Heparin