Biomaterial Database

Oral heparin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. 1995

J Imiela, and J Nosarzewski, and A Górski

Department of Internal Medicine II, Reilway Administration Central Hospital, Warsaw, Poland.

Heparin was administered orally in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment resulted in clinical improvement in all cases (significant reduction in the number of tender and swollen joints and morning stiffness). This was associated with a decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (8/10 patients) and cholesterol in all patients, although the differences were not significant. Recent data indicate that heparin can bind cytokines with potent immune modulatory action (e.g. TNF-alpha, interferon gamma etc.). Thus, neutralization of their action on target cells could be partially responsible for the beneficial effects reported. Moreover, heparin inhibits T cell traffic to a site of antigen by blocking enzymes digesting the extracellular matrix and interfering with selection activity. The results of our preliminary study suggest that heparin, given per os, may have immunomodulatory properties with potential application in human disease.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D005260	Female		Females
D006493	Heparin	A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.	Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000284	Administration, Oral	The giving of drugs, chemicals, or other substances by mouth.	Drug Administration, Oral,Administration, Oral Drug,Oral Administration,Oral Drug Administration,Administrations, Oral,Administrations, Oral Drug,Drug Administrations, Oral,Oral Administrations,Oral Drug Administrations
D001172	Arthritis, Rheumatoid	A chronic systemic disease, primarily of the joints, marked by inflammatory changes in the synovial membranes and articular structures, widespread fibrinoid degeneration of the collagen fibers in mesenchymal tissues, and by atrophy and rarefaction of bony structures. Etiology is unknown, but autoimmune mechanisms have been implicated.	Rheumatoid Arthritis