The tainted heparin story: an update

Thromb Haemost. 2009 Nov;102(5):907-11. doi: 10.1160/TH09-02-0079.

Abstract

Recently, certain batches of heparin have been associated with an acute, rapid onset of serious side-effects indicative of allergic-type reactions. These reports generated significant concern regarding the possible presence of a dangerous contaminant within heparin and highlighted the need to re-assess the purity criteria of heparin preparations for clinical use. Given the nature of the array of all possible contaminants, traditional screening tests cannot safely differentiate between contaminated and uncontaminated heparin preparations. Mono- and bi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy are powerful techniques that are able to detect and quantify a wide variety of potential sulfated polysaccharide contaminants. As such, these techniques are powerful tools for the analysis and assessment of heparin preparations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems
  • Animals
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects*
  • Anticoagulants / analysis
  • Anticoagulants / chemistry
  • Anticoagulants / standards
  • Child
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / adverse effects
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / analysis*
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / chemical synthesis
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / chemistry
  • Chondroitin Sulfates / pharmacology
  • Complement Activation / drug effects
  • Disease Outbreaks* / veterinary
  • Drug Contamination*
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Drug Hypersensitivity / etiology*
  • Heparin / adverse effects*
  • Heparin / analysis
  • Heparin / chemistry
  • Heparin / standards
  • Humans
  • Kallikreins / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular / methods*
  • Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Sulfates / analysis
  • Swine
  • United States
  • United States Food and Drug Administration

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Sulfates
  • Heparin
  • Chondroitin Sulfates
  • Kallikreins