Thromb Haemost 1981; 45(01): 024-026
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1650122
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH Stuttgart

Pharmacokinetics of Heparin in Healthy and Obese Subjects and in Combination with Dihydroergotamine

Björn Beermann
The Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery, Serafimerlasarettet, Stockholm, Sweden
,
Gordon Lahnborg
The Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Medicine and Department of Surgery, Serafimerlasarettet, Stockholm, Sweden
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 13 August 1980

Accepted 04 November 1980

Publication Date:
04 July 2018 (online)

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Summary

Heparin (5000 IE s.c., 5000 IE i v, 200 IE/kg i v) was given to healthy volunteers without and with 0.5 mg dihydroergotamine (DHE) i v to test whether DHE influences the kinetics of heparin. The anticoagulant (200 IE/kg) was also administered to obese subjects. Heparin was assayed using a chromogenic substrate for activated factor X.

The plasma levels of heparin did not differ whether given concomitantly with DHE or not. Halflife of heparin was also uninfluenced of DHE demonstrating that the beneficial effect of DHE on postoperative thromboembolism is not caused by interaction with the pharmacokinetics of heparin.

The plasma levels of heparin were significantly higher in the obese subjects than in the normal ones. The halflife of the drug averaged 2.13 h in the obese subjects and 1.36 h in the normal subjects (p<0.02). It was concluded that the heparin dosage should be calculated in terms of estimated ideal weight.