The role of heparin in alleviating complement-mediated acute intravascular haemolysis.
Heparin is commonly used as an anticoagulant but its many other pharmacologic properties are less well known. It has an important effect on complement regulation and has been shown in vitro to inhibit complement-mediated lysis of red cells. Although the beneficial effects of heparin for treatment of haemolytic anaemia were described many decades ago, its use in this scenario is not standard practice. Here we report a case where the use of heparin had a beneficial effect on a life-threatening episode of intravascular haemolysis. We also show unfractionated heparin to be more beneficial than low molecular weight heparin. We suggest that heparin has an important role to play in the management of complement-mediated haemolytic episodes.
Mannari
Deepak
D
Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. Deepak.Mannari@cancer.org.uk
Liu
Christine
C
Hughes
Derralynn
D
Mehta
Atul
A
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017984:Enoxaparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000235:genetics; D013156:Splenectomy; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D017984:Enoxaparin; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011516:Prothrombin; D006493:Heparin; D011239:Prednisolone; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D001379:Azathioprine