Adjuvant effect of heparin on peritonitis induced in rats

The caecal apex in rats was ligated and animals given no treatment died at an early period. When kanamycin intraperitoneally (i.p.) or kanamycin i.p. plus heparin 20 units subcutaneously (s.c.) were given, 75 per cent of rats died within 10 days after development of peritonitis. In rats given kanamycin and heparin i.p., 25 per cent of rats died at much the same time. On the contrary, survival rates were 100 per cent in rats treated with kanamycin and heparin i.p. and heparin s.c. (total dose of heparin was same as given to other groups). In these rats, bacteria were not cultured from the fluid obtained in the peritoneal cavity. These results suggest that when heparin is given i.p. or s.c., it plays a significant role as an adjuvant in the treatment of peritonitis along with the usual chemotherapy.