What is Heparin?
{{one source}} '''Heparin''' is an [[anticoagulant]] (which means it stops blood clots) discovered by [[Jay McLean]] and [[William Henry Howell]] in 1916. It is generally injected [[Subcutaneous tissue|under the skin]] or into [[Intravenous therapy|veins]]. As of now it seems safe to use on pregnant people (30 may 2024). It is identified as a [[glycosaminoglycan]] AKA long [[polysaccharide]] (what cells are made of) chains consisting of long repeating [[disaccharide]] chains. The discoverers first extracted heparin from the guts of animals such as turkey, atlantic salmon, mice, and even humans. The specimen of choice is a fresh, nonhemolyzed (intact [[Red blood cell|red blood cells]] is broken)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to YD Diagnostics|url=http://yd-diagnostics.com/new/customer/faq_view.php?no=18|access-date=2020-09-29|website=yd-diagnostics.com}}</ref> plasma anticoagulated by [[Fluoride|fluorides]]. Overdose can cause heparin-caused thrombocytopenia, a condition where [[White blood cell|white blood cells]] attack platelets (which are in the blood and heal wounds), causing a slower heal time, bad breakdown of [[tissue]] in the leg, [[heart infections]], and [[Stroke|strokes]]. Heparin is rated one of the [[World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines]]. It is valuable and popular with a high rate of success. ==Related pages== * [[Warfarin]] * [[Haemophilia]] == References == {{reflist}} [[Category:Blood]]