Dermatan sulphate as an antithrombotic drug.

Dermatan sulphate (DS) is a glycosaminoglycan which selectively catalyzes the inactivation of thrombin by Heparin Cofactor II without interacting with Antithrombin III. DS does not interact with other coagulation factors and, unlike heparin, is able to inactivate thrombin bound to fibrin or to the surface of an injured vessel. Efficacy and safety of DS have been validated in studies on thromboprophylaxis and on the anticoagulation for hemodialysis. Studies on thromboprophylaxis have been performed in "medical" patients as well as in general, orthopedic and oncological surgery. In this last setting, DS proved to be more efficacious than heparin, in the absence of excess bleeding. No statistically significant differences were observed between DS and heparin in hemodialysis. A low-molecular-weight DS,which shows a higher bioavailability after s.c. administration, has been tested in pilot studies on the treatment of venous thromboembolism with encouraging results. Two DS-containing compounds, sulodexide and, particularly, mesoglycan, have been clinically studied in a number of trials and found to be effective in the treatment of venous and arterial leg diseases.