Heparin sodium anticoagulant is widely used, and heparin calcium can also be used as blood anticoagulant. So what's the difference? Can heparin calcium be substituted for heparin sodium?
Heparin sodium anticoagulant action principle and heparin calcium is similar, is to use heparin anticoagulant. Ordinary heparin and low molecular weight heparin can combine with antithrombin iii to increase antithrombin III's affinity with clotting factors and act as anticoagulant factors. Although they share the same anticoagulant principle, they cannot be substituted for each other. Heparin sodium is more commonly used than heparin calcium.
Molecular difference between heparin sodium and heparin calcium;
Structurally, the main component of heparin sodium and heparin calcium is heparin, but they contain different metal cations. Heparin calcium is also generally made from heparin sodium.
Low molecular weight heparin has two forms, sodium salt and calcium salt, but there is little difference in clinical efficacy. Heparin calcium is slightly stronger than heparin sodium anticoagulant factor 2A, but the anticoagulant factor is relatively weak, but overall there is no significant difference in clinical efficacy.
Differences between heparin sodium and heparin calcium:
Because heparin has a stronger affinity for Ca2+ ions than Na+ ions, calcium deposits in different tissues tend to occur when heparin sodium is used, especially in blood vessels and capillaries, especially when large doses are injected subcutaneously. Calcium chelation disrupts the permeability of adjacent capillaries, leading to petechiae and hematoma. The conversion of sodium to calcium salts may cause an imbalance of electrolytes in the blood.
Differences in the application of heparin sodium and heparin calcium;
Heparin sodium is usually used as a needle for tube sealing in patients with infusion, and the effect is quite good, but when patients choose subcutaneous injection, it is best to choose heparin calcium, so that there are fewer adverse reactions.
Heparin sodium is not only used as an anticoagulant, but also as a non-pharmaceutical reagent in other applications such as vascularage or cosmetics. The titer, purity and impurity content of heparin sodium for different purposes are different. Heparin calcium is used primarily as a drug and more is needed.