Anticoagulant
The ability to inhibit clotting. The anticoagulant effect may be drug-specific as with Heparin or Warfarin (and similar drugs) or more unspecific. Specific anticoagulant effects may be controlled and adjusted according to the biological effect. All contrast media may cause unspecific inhibition of clotting in vitro, more with ionic contrast media but, to a smaller extent, also with non-ionic low-osmolar contrast media. Such unspecific inhibition of coagulation is an expression of chemotoxicity, inducing an uncontrolled, unknown risk to the diagnostic or interventional procedure. Proper anticoagulant treatment and control using Heparin should be considered in all angioplasty procedures and in angiographies lasting more than 20 minutes.
GE Healthcare Glossary