J. Boyle, R. Smart, J. K. Shirey
Jul 1, 1964
Citations
0
Influential Citations
38
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
The American journal of cardiology
Abstract
Abstract Intravenous heparin has been evaluated by a double-blind technic in the treatment of obstructive bronchopulmonary disease. Release of bronchospasm and elimination of obstructing mucous secretions was observed in 11 of 19 patients (58%) treated with intravenous heparin. Marked improvement was observed in an additional patient and failure was observed in only 6 patients (22%) so treated. Fourteen (77%) of 18 control patients demonstrated little or no response to an injected placebo, while 2 patients (11%) demonstrated an apparently beneficial effect from the placebo. The mechanism of this antiinflammatory and antiallergic effect of heparin is not presently known. Additional observations suggest that heparin enhances the antibacterial activity of certain antibiotics, namely, Coly-Mycin and neomycin, in the treatment of resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Finally, in 2 patients, heparin appeared to prevent or reduce toxic side effects of Coly-Mycin without interfering with its antibacterial activity.