Heparin--a key drug in the treatment of the circulatory degenerative diseases: controlling its action with polymers

Abstract

The properties of heparin, a key anticoagulant, are reviewed. The important issues in heparinotherapy, i.e., reaching quick anticoagulant effect, maintaining therapeutic level of anticoagulation, heparin inhibition and non-invasive heparin formulations have been reviewed and discussed, with the focus on the role of polymeric substances in the proposed solutions.