ORLANDO, May 25 (Reuters Health) -- The 'blood-thinning' drug heparin -- usually used in patients at risk for clots -- can also reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis in some patients, according to researchers.
A recent study has "found a modest benefit of heparin in improving symptoms of ulcerative colitis," said lead author Dr. Joshua Korzenik of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He presented the findings to delegates attending the Digestive Disease Week conference of digestive tract specialists, held here this month.
Because gastrointestinal bleeding can be a complication of ulcerative colitis, researchers had assumed that anticoagulant drugs like heparin would be of little benefit to such patients. However, anecdotal evidence began to suggest that colitis symptoms might improve in some patients coincidentally treated with heparin for other illnesses.
In their study, 68 patients with ulcerative colitis received either daily doses of heparin or a 'dummy' placebo in addition to their regular colitis drug regimen for 6 weeks.
Korzenik told Reuters Health that the use of heparin more than doubled rates of symptom improvement compared with placebo.
"Seven of the 35 (patients) in the placebo group (20%) improved or were in remission," he told Reuters Health, while "14 out of 33 (42%)... improved or were in remission in those receiving heparin." Most of this improvement was noted within 3 weeks of treatment.
Korzenik said the mechanisms behind the effectiveness of heparin in ulcerative colitis are "more intriguing than even (these) results."
But he theorized that ulcerative colitis "is in a certain way like a heart attack to the colon." Tiny 'micro-clots' within the local blood supply may reduce oxygen supply to the colon, he said, impairing its ability to heal. Heparin may clear these micro-clots, "helping reverse... these problems and re-establishing good blood flow," resulting in faster healing.
The researchers also note that their study shows that the use of heparin "is safe in the setting of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis." But more study is needed to confirm these study results before heparin becomes a recognized treatment for ulcerative colitis.
