heparin
noun
hep·a·rin ˈhe-pə-rən 
: a mucopolysaccharide sulfuric acid ester that is found especially in the liver and lungs, that prolongs the clotting time of blood, and that is used medically in the form of its sodium salt
heparinized
ˈhe-pə-rə-ˌnīzd
adjective 
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Heparin is an organic compound used to prevent blood from clotting in the heart or blood vessels during and after surgery, and for initial treatment of various heart, lung, or circulatory disorders in which there is an increased risk of blood clotting. A mixture of complex carbohydrate molecules, heparin occurs naturally in liver and lung tissues. It was discovered in 1922 and originally used to prevent clotting in blood taken for laboratory tests.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In the affected patients, researchers have seen a rare clotting reaction similar to a rare side effect of the blood-thinning medication heparin. 
Leah Rosenbaum, Forbes, 16 Apr. 2021 The blood-thinning medication heparin is commonly used to treat clots but could be hazardous if used in these situations. Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021 The other trial will study the use of heparin in patients who are hospitalized. Anna Edney, Bloomberg.com, 10 Sep. 2020 These guys in Italy, based on their experience, are saying that prophylactic doses of the anticoagulants heparin or Lovenox or something along those lines should be continued for 14 days after the patient has been discharged home. Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, 9 July 2020 His team has started such a study and going forward will test varying doses of either the classic blood thinner heparin or one of the newer, oral anticoagulant drugs such as dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor. Maggie Fox, CNN, 6 May 2020 Some doctors have tried using blood thinners such as heparin to try to reduce the clotting, but there's not enough evidence to show whether such treatment helps patients survive. Maggie Fox, CNN, 17 Apr. 2020 The contaminant, which is very cheap, was similar in chemical structure to heparin and was able to go undetected in routine tests. Marsha Blackburn, STAT, 14 Feb. 2020 The company has since shipped several other essential medicines, including the blood thinner heparin and the opioid overdose rescue drug, naloxone. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2020 See More
Leah Rosenbaum, Forbes, 16 Apr. 2021 The blood-thinning medication heparin is commonly used to treat clots but could be hazardous if used in these situations. Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021 The other trial will study the use of heparin in patients who are hospitalized. Anna Edney, Bloomberg.com, 10 Sep. 2020 These guys in Italy, based on their experience, are saying that prophylactic doses of the anticoagulants heparin or Lovenox or something along those lines should be continued for 14 days after the patient has been discharged home. Lauren Caruba, ExpressNews.com, 9 July 2020 His team has started such a study and going forward will test varying doses of either the classic blood thinner heparin or one of the newer, oral anticoagulant drugs such as dabigatran, a direct thrombin inhibitor. Maggie Fox, CNN, 6 May 2020 Some doctors have tried using blood thinners such as heparin to try to reduce the clotting, but there's not enough evidence to show whether such treatment helps patients survive. Maggie Fox, CNN, 17 Apr. 2020 The contaminant, which is very cheap, was similar in chemical structure to heparin and was able to go undetected in routine tests. Marsha Blackburn, STAT, 14 Feb. 2020 The company has since shipped several other essential medicines, including the blood thinner heparin and the opioid overdose rescue drug, naloxone. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 10 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek hēpar liver
First Known Use
1918, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
heparin
noun
hep·a·rin ˈhep-ə-rən
: a glycosaminoglycan sulfuric acid ester that occurs especially in the liver and lungs, that prolongs the clotting time of blood by preventing the formation of fibrin, and that is administered parenterally in the form of its sodium salt in vascular surgery and in the treatment of postoperative thrombosis and embolism see liquaemin compare antiprothrombin, antithrombin