Heparin pharmacokinetics and molecular data

Heparin is a heterogenous group of straight-chain anionic mucopolysaccharides, called glycosaminoglycans, having anticoagulant properties. Although others may be present, the main sugars occurring in Heparin are:

(1) α-L-iduronic acid 2-sulfate,

(2) 2-deoxy-2-sulfamino-α-D-glucose 6-sulfate,

(3) β-D-glucuronic acid,

(4) 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-glucose, and

(5) α-L-iduronic acid.

These sugars are present in decreasing amounts, usually in the order (2)> (1)> (4)> (3)> (5), and are joined by glycosidic linkages, forming polymers of varying sizes. Heparin is strongly acidic because of its content of covalently linked sulfate and carboxylic acid groups. In Heparin sodium, the acidic protons of the sulfate units are partially replaced by sodium ions.