Heparin against inflammation: Targeting evolution and clinical impacts.

Due to the complex polysaccharide structure, heparin can interact with a variety of bioactive molecules besides activated factor X and factor II, thus exerting multifaceted pharmacological effects beyond anticoagulation. In this light, anti-inflammatory illness has been noted as an important area regarding the expanded therapeutic potentials of heparin, through multiple targeting mechanisms against thrombo-inflammation. Herein this article sorts out a comprehensive clinical profile of major inflammatory disorders that can benefit from administration of heparin regimens, covering sepsis, pregnancy, pulmonary disease, acute pancreatitis, nephropathy and skin problems. It tends to systemically bridge the gap between advanced heparin biology of multi-target effects and increasing application of heparin-derived medication for inflammatory indications yet mainly in an empiric manner.