ORALLY-ADMINISTERED HEPARIN FOR PREVENTING DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS

BACKGROUND: Sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl] amino) caprylate (SNAC) is an acetylated amino acid molecule that facilitates the gastrointestina l absorption of heparin. This study was undertaken to evaluate the eff icacy of orally administered combination SNAC:heparin in preventing de ep venous thrombosis in a standard rat model. METHODS: Forty-four adul t male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: gro up I control, group II SNAC, group III oral heparin, group IV combinat ion SNAC:heparin, and group V intravenous heparin. Thirty minutes afte r drug administration, the internal jugular vein was bathed in a scler osant mixture for 2 minutes and reexplored at 120 minutes. Activated p artial thromboplastin times (aPTT) were measured in 30 rats equally di vided into three groups: group I SNAC, group II oral heparin, and grou p III combination SNAC:heparin. Forty-five minutes posttreatment, bloo d was obtained for aPTT levels. RESULTS: The incidence of deep venous thrombosis in the control group was 89% (8 of 9) versus 25% (2 of 8) i n the combination SNAC:heparin group (p <0.01). There was also a signi ficant reduction in clot weight among groups. Combination SNAC:heparin significantly increased aPTT levels compared with SNAC or oral hepari n alone. CONCLUSION: In a rat model of venous thrombosis, combination of orally administered heparin:SNAC elevated aPTT levels and significa ntly reduced the formation of deep venous thrombosis. Am J Surg. 1998; 176:176-178. (C) 1998 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.