Effects of Heparin

A few recent communications deal with electrophoretic observations concerning the effect of heparin on alimentary hyperlipemia. Nikkila (1) found by moving boundary electrophoresis a decrease of beta-1 globulin and an increase in alpha-1 globulin after the injection of heparin. Rosenberg (2) and Fasoli (3) noted on paper electrophoresis an increase in the mobility of the beta lipoproteins which migrated in or near the alpha-2 globulin area. On the other hand, Spitzer (4) stated that administration of heparin does not alter the electrophoretic patterns of serum proteins in either fasting or lipemic dogs. To obtain further information about the effect of heparin on the plasma proteins in alimentary hyperlipemia normal individuals were given a meal rich in fat and thereafter the electrophoretic pattern of the serum was studied both before and after the intravenous injection of heparin. Electrophoretic analysis was made by paper electrophoresis as well as by moving boundary electrophoresis. The results of these studies are described in this paper.