Inhibition by anticoagulant drugs of the progressive hypertension and uremia associated with renal infarction in rats.

We confirmed our previously reported findings that subcutaneous administration of heparin (200 U q 12 hr) in rats with experimental partial renal infarction prevents the development of progressive renal failure and hypertension, as well as the glomerular abnormalities which occur in the remaining viable renal tissue. In the present study, heparin, in the dosage used to prevent progressive renal failure, caused a marked and sustained prolongation of the activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time, as well as a transient prolongation of the bleeding time. Administration of coumadin at doses which caused a significant prolongation of the prothrombin time and bleeding time also inhibited the development of progressive hypertension and uremia in rats with experimental partial renal infarction. These findings indicate that inhibition of blood coagulation effectively protects rats with experimentally decreased renal mass from the development of progressive renal failure and hypertension and support the concept that the glomerular thrombosis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of these complications.