Introduction: Bovine and ovine mucosa represent alternate anticoagulants to porcine mucosa for production of unfractionated heparin (UFH). Standardized heparins from various sources can be blended and potency adjusted, blended heparins exhibit comparable effects as single-sourced porcine UFH. This study evaluated the pharmacologic profile of blended heparin and compared their activities to that of single sourced porcine, ovine, and bovine heparins. Methods: The anticoagulant effects of gravimetric and potency-adjusted heparins were evaluated with aPTT, TT, anti-Xa, anti-IIa, ACT, and TGA studies. Protamine sulfate studies were used for neutralization potential of each of the individual heparins. Results: The potency-adjusted heparins demonstrated comparable aPTT, TT, anti-Xa, anti-IIa, and ACT values at all concentrations (U/mL). However, in gravimetric studies, bovine heparin consistently showed lower values with the exception of thrombin generation inhibition studies. The protamine sulfate neutralization studies demonstrated complete neutralization at all concentrations for the potency-adjusted heparins. However, at gravimetric concentrations, minor differences were noted in the neutralization profile in each of these heparins. Conclusion: These studies support the hypothesis that blended heparin from bovine, ovine, and porcine tissue, when standardized in unit-equivalent proportions, exhibits a comparable anticoagulant profile to the single species derived heparins.
Keywords: USP reference heparin; anticoagulant assays; blended heparins; gravimetric; heparin.