2018/1/31 11:26:05
A large number of clinical and experimental researches have indicated that dextran sulfate sodium salt has anticoagulation effect similar to heparinoid, and this effect is closely related to its molecular weight and sulphur contents. In Japan, dextran sulfate sodium salt with 5,000Da molecular weight and 17%-20% of sulphur content had been widely used as anticoagulant and lipid-lowering drugs in clinical treatment. It was noted that dextran sulfate sodium salt possessed different properties from heparin and had great potential as an anticoagulant. The desirable properties are outlined below:
(1) Heparin’s anticoagulant property derives from its ability to activate antithrombase III. Dextran sulfate sodium salt achieves anticoagulation via activating heparin cofactor II, and its effect is more gentle and durable. Hence dextran sulfate sodium salt is suitable for hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases patients with hypercoagulable conditions.
(2) Heparin is extracted from animals. It is a biological agent with antigenicity and can be easily polluted during the extraction process. Thus, heparin easily causes anaphylactic reactions. On the other hand, dextran sulfate sodium salt is not of animal origin and is synthesized, purified under strictly controlled conditions, thus has a lower risk for anaphylactic reactions.
(3) Heparin may only be used in intravenous injection, but dextran sulfate sodium salt may be taken orally.
(4) The extraction process of heparin is complex, its molecular weight distribution is not uniform, and its sulphur content is not controllable. However, dextran sulfate sodium salt’s molecular weight and sulphur content can be manipulated via technology. Products with ultralow molecular weight, for example, maltooligosaccharide (or isomaltooligosaccharide) sulphate, will certainly become strong performers in the area of anticoagulation and antithrombus.