ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTION OF HEPARIN - HEPARIN AS AN ANTAGONIST TO HISTAMINE, BRADYKININ AND PROSTAGLANDIN-E1

Heparin at a dose of 50-100 units/kg intravenously will suppress increased vascular permeability induced by logarithmic doses of histamine (p<0.001) bradykinin (p<0.001) and prostaglandin E1 (p<0.001). Heparin in vitro does not suppress the effects of these agents on smooth muscle contraction, not does it bind them in physiological solutions. Heparin may act on the vascular endothelium, and may prove to be useful in the control of oedema in inflammation. These findings support the hypothesis that heparin affects the micro-circulation. It may be possible to demonstrate that some of the non-anticoagulant sub-fractions of heparin have this activity. © 1979.