Orally administered heparin for preventing deep venous thrombosis.
BACKGROUND
Sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate (SNAC) is an acetylated amino acid molecule that facilitates the gastrointestinal absorption of heparin. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered combination SNAC:heparin in preventing deep venous thrombosis in a standard rat model.


METHODS
Forty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: group I control, group II SNAC, group III oral heparin, group IV combination SNAC:heparin, and group V intravenous heparin. Thirty minutes after drug administration, the internal jugular vein was bathed in a sclerosant mixture for 2 minutes and reexplored at 120 minutes. Activated partial thromboplastin times (aPTT) were measured in 30 rats equally divided into three groups: group I SNAC, group II oral heparin, and group III combination SNAC:heparin. Forty-five minutes posttreatment, blood was obtained for aPTT levels.


RESULTS
The incidence of deep venous thrombosis in the control group was 89% (8 of 9) versus 25% (2 of 8) in the combination SNAC:heparin group (p < 0.01). There was also a significant reduction in clot weight among groups. Combination SNAC:heparin significantly increased aPTT levels compared with SNAC or oral heparin alone.


CONCLUSIONS
In a rat model of venous thrombosis, combination of orally administered heparin:SNAC elevated aPTT levels and significantly reduced the formation of deep venous thrombosis.
Gonze
M D
MD
Department of Surgery, The Ochsner Medical Institutions, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Manord
J D
JD
Leone-Bay
A
A
Baughman
R A
RA
Garrard
C L
CL
Sternbergh
W C
WC
Money
S R
SR
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002210:Caprylates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*
D002210:Caprylates; C111140:N-(8-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino)caprylate; D006493:Heparin