The Alteration of the Lipemia-Clearing Effect of Heparin Following the Intravenous Injection of Thorium Dioxide (Thorotrast)

Abstract

The lipemia-clearing response to intravenous heparin in the normal dog has been compared with that in dogs injected intravenously with Thorotrast. In normal dogs, intravenous heparin caused clearance of the lipemia (optical density) of approximately 77 per cent of the total amount possible. Dogs receiving low total amounts of Thorotrast (50 to 100 ml.) responded to heparin with a reduced ability to clear an alimentary lipemia, while dogs receiving large total amounts of Thorotrast (150 ml. or more) responded to heparin by becoming even more lipemic. The lipemia inducing effect of protamine was similar in both normal and Thorotrast-injected animals.