The Heparins: Basic and Clinical Aspects

More than 30 tons of the anticoagulant, heparin, are produced annually, making it one of the most widely used drugs worldwide. It is a major pharmaceutical whose properties and clinical applications continue to be investigated and examined. The Heparins-Unfractionated, Low Molecular Weight, and Non-Anticoagulant describes the fascinating history of the discovery of this biological agent, how it was isolated and characterized, and its use for the treatment of thrombotic disorders. The structures of the various heparins are illustrated, and their function as anticoagulants delineated. Dr. Green is an internationally known hematologist with 45 years of clinical and research experience and an expert on bleeding and clotting disorders. This resource arms researchers and clinicians with a concise and practical source of information about the heparins, assisting biomedical research and medical practice and ultimately improving patient outcomes.

• Describes new pharmaceuticals derived from heparin that are devoid of anticoagulant activity, but still retain anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties
• Discusses the development of non-anticoagulant heparins for the treatment of diseases, including asthma and cancer
• Presents the history of the discovery of this biological agent, how it was isolated and characterized, and its use for the treatment of thrombotic disorders