Possible Interaction: Epinephrine and Heparin

“ Heparin concentrations as high as 100 units/ml were found to suppress platelet alpha granule release induced by either a thromboxane A2 analog (U46619) or a combination of adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine.”

“ Heparin , when added to citrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), caused potentiation of platelet aggregation and the release reaction induced by the aggregating agents adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid, collagen, and epinephrine.”

“Thompson and colleagues [14] showed that heparin can increase platelet aggregation by ADP and adrenaline , both in vitro and in vivo.”

“These results show that EPI contributes significantly to the anticoagulant effect of heparin in human blood.”

“After antagonizing the heparin dose and supporting the right heart with epinephrine bleeding was reduced substantially, following which the right pulmonary artery was declamped.”

“In contrast, the affinity of the alpha-adrenoceptor for adrenaline was decreased in the presence of heparin.”

“ Heparin was found to increase slightly ADP and epinephrine induced aggregation and to decrease cAMP.”

“ Heparin potentiates the first aggregation step induced by ADP and epinephrine but inhibits aggregation induced by thrombin and ristocetin.”

“ Heparin potentiates the aggregating effect of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and epinephrine , but it is uneffective on the aggregation induced by ristocetin and collagen.”

“When ADP or epinephrine was added to citrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) one minute after addition of heparin , marked enhancement of platelet aggregation was observed, compared with the degree of platelet aggregation in the absence of heparin.”