Method for treating thrombotic disorders using sulfated polysaccharides
Methods for treating thrombotic disorders using sulfated polysaccharides such as fucoidans are disclosed.
1 . A method for treating a mammalian subject in need of reduced blood coagulation comprising orally administering to said subject a composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of one or more fucoidans.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises from 5 to 25 percent by weight sulfur.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said one or more fucoidans are algal.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said one or more fucoidans are derived from the genus Fucus or Laminaria.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said one or more fucoidans are derived from Fucus vesiculosis or from Laminaria japonica.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said administering is effective to produce a greater than 50% increase in said subject's activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammalian subject is an animal.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said mammalian subject is a human.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is administered at a daily dosage ranging from about 1 mg fucoidan/kg to about 50 mg fucoidan/kg.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is essentially free of algal components other than said one or more fucoidans.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said administering comprises administering said composition at an initial dosage of from about 1 mg fucoidan/kg to about 50 mg fucoidan/kg, wherein said initial dose is effective to (i) produce a greater than 50% increase in said subject's APTT within one hour of said administering, and (ii) result in a measurable anticoagulant effect in said subject for at least about eight hours post-administration.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said composition is administered to a human subject at a daily dosage ranging from about 50 mg fucoidan to about 4500 mg fucoidan daily.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said composition is in a powder, tablet, capsule, suspension, or liquid form.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject possesses a thrombotic disorder.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said subject possesses a condition selected from deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, disseminated intravascular coagulation, unstable angina, and procoagulation or thrombosis induced by Factor VIIa treatment.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cause of the need for reduced blood coagulation is pre- or post surgery or another invasive procedure.
17 . A composition for oral administration comprising:
one or more fucoidans, and
a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient; wherein said composition is essentially free of algal components other than said one or more fucoidans and is in a powder, tablet, capsule, suspension, or liquid form.
18 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein said composition comprises from 5 to 25 percent by weight sulfur.
19 . The composition of claim 17 , wherein said one or more fucoidans are algal.
20 . The composition of claim 19 , wherein said one or more fucoidans are derived from the genus Fucus or Laminaria.
21 . The composition of claim 20 , wherein said one or more fucoidans are derived from Fucus vesiculosis or from Laminaria japonica.
22 . A kit comprising:
the composition of claim 17 in packaged form, and instructions for orally administering 1 mg/kg to 50 mg/kg of said one or more fucoidans daily for effecting reduced blood coagulation in a mammalian subject.
23 . A blood-contacting medical device coated with one or more fucoidans.