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.
