[Heparin therapy: 1998 (current use of the 80-year-old heparin)]

The 80th anniversary of the best known glycosaminoglycan, a mixture of mucopolysaccharides, named heparin by Howell and Holt in 1918 is celebrated this year. It was widely used during the last six decades in prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism causing a significant decrease of death from pulmonary embolism and the morbidity of deep venous thrombosis. Conventional, unfractionated heparin is also administered on many other topics. Some more than ten years ago the fractionated, low-molecular-weight heparins were introduced into clinical practice and it seems increasingly likely that the fractionated preparations of this classic drug will take over the dominating role. The present study intends to summarize the today's possibilities of prevention and treatment of thromboembolism mostly on the venous side of circulation.