The Effects Of Heparin On The Activation Of Factor X And Prothrombin In Antithrombin III-Depleted Plasma

The predominant mode of the anticoagulant action of heparin is considered to be the enhancement of the rate of inactivation, by antithrombin-III, of several activated clotting factors. Recent evidence, however, suggests that heparin can reversibly inhibit the activation of prothrombin and factor X even in the absence of anti- thrombin-III. This antithrombin-III-independent action of heparin has been demonstrated only in purified clotting factor …