Heparin regulates hemostasis at various points of the coagulation cascade mainly through its interaction with antithrombin and heparin cofactor II. Because of these properties, heparin is a ...life-saving anticoagulant drug used in renal dialysis, cardiac surgery, and treatment for deep vein thrombosis. In the late 1980s, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or "mad cow disease") was reported first in the United Kingdom and later in several other countries, raising concerns about the use of bovine-sourced heparin products in humans. Because of these concerns, manufacturers of bovine hepa- rin products voluntarily withdrew them from the US market in the 1990s.
