The story of the discovery of heparin and warfarin.
Heparin and coumarins have been the mainstay of anticoagulant therapy throughout our working lives. As we stand on the threshold of a new era of anticoagulants it is timely to look back upon their discovery and development. Both have fascinating stories to tell. Jay McLean claimed to have discovered heparin whilst a medical student, although this is disputed. The story of warfarin leads us from a mysterious haemorrhagic disease of cattle to the development of a rat poison which became one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in history. Many people were involved in both stories and we owe them all a debt of gratitude.
Wardrop
Douglas
D
Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals, Oxford, UK.
Keeling
David
D
D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000266:history*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000266:history; D006405:Hematology / Q000266:history*; D006493:Heparin / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D014859:Warfarin / Q000266:history*
D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin