Heparin

The history of heparin; methods of structural analysis; general physical properties; chemical synthesis; occurence and evolutionary aspects; the mast cell system; heparan sulphate protoglycans; molecular organization and functions of heparan sulphate; biosynthesis of heparin and related polysaccharides; enzymes that degrade heparin and heparan sulphate; molecular mechanisms of the accelerating effect of heparin on the reactions between antithrombin and clotting proteinases; heparin co-factor II; the biochemistry, cell biology and pathophysiology of anticoagulantly active heparin-like molecules of the vessel wall; regulation of cellular proliferation; aiogenesis; lipases; heparin binding and neutralizing proteins; heparin assays and standardization; pharmacokinetics; antithrombotic mechanisms; use of heparin as a prophylactic agent against venous thromboembolism; monitoring heparin treatment; heparin-induced bleeding and thrombocytopenia; heparin as an anticoagulant during extracorporeal circulation; surface-immobilized heparin.