Healthy Notes

Heparin 🩸   1. Introduction Heparin is a naturally occurring anticoagulant (blood thinner). It is used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins, arteries, or lungs. Heparin does not dissolve clots but prevents their growth and formation of new clots. 2. Classification Category Details Pharmacological Indirect thrombin inhibitor Therapeutic Anticoagulant Source Extracted from animal tissues (porcine intestinal mucosa or bovine lung) 3. Mechanism of Action (MOA) Heparin binds to antithrombin III (AT III). This enhances AT III's ability to inactivate thrombin (factor IIa) and factor Xa . As a result: Inhibits conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin . Prevents the formation and propagation of clots. 🧠 Mnemonic : "Heparin Helps Antithrombin Halt Clotting" 4. Types of Heparin Type Details Unfractionated Heparin (UFH) Standard form, IV or SC administration Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) e.g., ...