In medicine,<unk>  <unk>  is a class of medication used as an anticoagulant in diseases that feature thrombosis, as well as for prophylaxis in situations that lead to a high risk of thrombosis.
Heparin is a naturally-occurring polysaccharide that inhibits coagulation, the process whereby thrombosis occurs (see Heparin: Mechanisms of action). Natural heparin consists of<unk>  chains of varying lengths, or<unk><unk> s. Chains of<unk><unk>  from 5000 to over 40,000 Daltons, making up polydisperse pharmacetical grade heparin.
Heparin derived from natural sources, mainly porcine intestine or bovine lung, can be administered therapeutically to prevent thrombosis (see anticoagulation).  However, the effects of natural, or unfractionated, heparin can be difficult to predict.  After a standard dose of unfractionated heparin, coagulation parameters must be monitored very closely to prevent over- or under-anticoagulation.<unk> s <unk> s), in contrast, consist of only short chains of polysaccharide.<unk> s are defined as heparin salts having an average<unk><unk>  of less than 8000 Da and for which at least 60% of all chains have a<unk><unk>  less than 8000 Da. These are obtained by various methods of fractionation or depolymerisation of polymeric heparin. They have a potency of greater than 70 units/mg of anti factor Xa activity and a ratio of anti factor Xa activity to anti thrombin activity of >1.5.
Low molecular weight heparin
Heparinoids
Enoxaparin
Thrombectomy
Heparin
Iotalamic acid
Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors
Oxeladin