[Biological activities of heparins, other than their antithrombotic action]

High and low molecular weight heparins are well known as antithrombotics. However they have some other interesting biological properties possibly usefull in the medical field. 1) They capture calcium ions. 2) They are very effective against vipers venom. 3) They increase the lipasemia, phenomenon acting secondarily on the calcemia. 4) Finally they are not only antithrombotic but have an activity increasing the physiologic pathway of fibrinolysis.