SULODEXIDE

Pharmacology

Sulodexide is a medium molecular weight glycosaminoglycan with effect on plasma viscosity by lowering plasma fibrinogen concentrations (Lunetta and Salanitri, 1992). Sulodexide disers from other glycosaminoglycans, like heparin, by having a longer half-life, reduced effect on systemic clotting and bleeding and increased lipolytic activity. Oral administration of sulodexide results in the release of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and an increase in fibrinolytic activities. Sulodexide has been used in chronic venous disease (Andreozzi, 2014), peripheral occlusive arterial disease with claudication (Shustov, 1997) and diabetic nephropathy (Vilayur and Harris, 2009). Parnetti et al. (1997) conducted a trial of sulodexide in patients fulfilling NINDSAIREN criteria for probable VaD; 46 patients were included in the active treatment group, compared with 40 in the pentoxifylline group. Larger reductions of plasma fibrinogen levels were seen with sulodexide, and both groups showed a slight reduction in activated factor VII levels. Dementia scores improved more in the sulodexide group.