Heparin and vascular endothelium.

Abstract

From the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. Research evidence has accummulated to indicate that endogenous heparin functions in the repair of injured vascular endothelium and that the fixation of injected exogenous heparin at the endothelial surface, and the many beneficial effects of heparin at this site, would minimize the harmful effects of atherogenic and thrombotic factors. This subject has both physiologic and clinical significance. Physiologically it is pertinent that in various species there are numerous mast cells immedi-