Skip to content

Mesoglycan

Mesoglycan is a substance extracted from the lungs or blood vessels of cows or pigs' intestines. Mesoglycan is used for various problems in the area of the blood vessels. Depending on the type of use, mesoglycan is taken orally, applied to the skin or injected intramuscularly or intravenously. Mesoglycan is used to treat arteriosclerosis, hemorrhoids, inflammatory swelling of the blood vessels, poor blood circulation that can lead to varicose veins and other problems in the veins, leg ulcers, high blood lipid levels and strokes. It is also used to reduce leg pain while walking, which is common in people suffering from peripheral arterial disease. Mesoglycan is sometimes used to improve thinking ability in people with poor blood flow to the brain. Another use is to prevent blood clots in the legs (venous thrombosis). Mesoglycan is sometimes applied directly to the skin to treat leg ulcers. Doctors administer mesoglycan in the form of injections to treat poor blood circulation, leg ulcers, heart disease and strokes. They administer mesoglycan intravenously to treat ischemia of the lower extremities - a condition in which not enough oxygen reaches the leg tissue due to problems with the veins.

How does mesoglycan work?

Mesoglycan appears to have an effect that improves blood flow and reduces the risk of blood clots.

How effective is mesoglycan?

Mesoglycan may be effective in the following applications:

  • Treating poor circulation that can lead to varicose veins and other conditions: There is evidence that mesoglycan administered orally or as an injection may relieve symptoms associated with certain venous conditions including varicose veins and swollen veins when used for a period of 1 to 3 months. Applying mesoglycan to the skin also appears to be helpful in treating leg ulcers in people with poor circulation.
  • Treatment of leg ulcers: Oral or injected administration of a combination of mesoglycan appears to increase the effectiveness of common leg ulcer treatment.
  • Reduction of pain when walking in people suffering from peripheral arterial disease: Alternating intravenous and oral doses of mesoglycan appear to improve walking distance in people suffering from peripheral arterial disease.
  • Improving thinking ability and quality of life in people with restricted blood flow to the brain: Oral mesoglycan appears to improve brain oxygenation and quality of life when used for 6 months. There is evidence that mesoglycan may work as well as standard treatment with drugs that thin the blood.
  • Reducing blood levels of triglycerides.

Mesoglycan may be ineffective when used to prevent blood clots in the legs and lungs (venous and pulmonary thrombosis), as well as in the treatment of stroke.

There is not enough scientific data to be able to make a statement regarding the effectiveness of mesoglycan in the following areas of application:

  • Atherosclerosis: There is some early evidence that mesoglycan may slow the progression of atherosclerosis by preventing thickening of the walls of blood vessels.
  • Inflammatory swelling of blood vessels: There was evidence that injected mesoglycan could be useful in treating this condition in some people.
  • Treatment of hemorrhoids

Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of mesoglycan in these applications.

Safety and side effects

Mesoglycan appears to be safe and harmless for adults when taken orally. However, it may cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, headaches, diarrhea and skin reactions. Because mesoglycan is made from an animal product, there is a risk that diseases could be unintentionally transmitted from sick animals to humans. There is not enough information to know whether mesoglycan applied to the skin or injected intravenously is safe and harmless.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of mesoglycan during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid mesoglycan.

Blood clotting problems: Mesoglycan could cause bleeding in people who suffer from blood clotting problems.

Allergy to the blood thinner heparin: Mesoglycan could cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to heparin or related medications.

Surgeries: Mesoglycan could slow down blood clotting. There are concerns that this could increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. For this reason, the use of mesoglycan should be stopped at least 2 weeks before planned operations.

Interactions

Care should be taken when combining mesoglycan with the following medications:

Blood thinning medications (thrombolytics)

Mesoglycan could reduce blood clotting. The use of mesoglycan in combination with drugs used to dissolve blood clots could increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.

Medications that slow down blood clotting

Mesoglycan could slow down blood clotting. Using mesoglycan in conjunction with medications that also slow blood clotting could increase the risk of bleeding and the tendency to bruise.

Some medications that may slow blood clotting include aspirin, diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen, naproxen, heparin, warfarin and others.

Dosage

The following dosages have been investigated in scientific studies:

Oral

  • To prevent blood flow disturbances to the brain: 100-144 mg mesoglycan per day
  • For high triglyceride levels: 96 mg mesoglycan per day
  • For poor blood circulation: 50 mg mesoglycan three times a day

Intramuscular

  • Doctors administer mesoglycan by injection for the treatment of cerebrovascular disease, poor blood circulation and ulcers caused by poor blood circulation.

References

  1. Abate G, Berenga A, Caione F, et al [Controlled multicenter study on the therapeutic effectiveness of mesoglycan in patients with cerebrovascular disease]. Minerva Med 1991;82:101-5.
  2. Agrati AM, De Bartolo G, Palmieri G. [Heparan sulfate: efficacy and safety in patients with chronic venous insufficiency]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1991;39:395-400.
  3. Ambrosio LA, Marchese G, Filippo A, et al. The effect of mesoglycan in patients with cerebrovascular disease: a psychometric evaluation. J Int Med Res 1993;21:138-46.
  4. Andreozzi GM, Signorelli S, Lo Duca S, et al. Effects of mesoglycan sulfate on the arterial elastic module. Angiology 1987;38:593-600.
  5. Arosio E, Ferrari G, Santoro L, et al. A placebo-controlled, double-blind study of mesoglycan in the treatment of chronic venous ulcers. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2001;22:365-72.
  6. Blardi P, Messa G, Puccetti L, et al [Effects on the coagulation-fibrinolysis system of a single oral dose of mesoglycan at the beginning and at the end of a prolonged treatment in man]. Recenti Prog Med 1995;86:282-9.
  7. Cazzato G, Zorzon M, Mase G, et al [Mesoglycan in acute focal cerebral ischemia]. Riv Neurol 1989;59:121-6.
  8. La Marca G, Pumilia G, Martino A. [Effectiveness of mesoglycan topical treatment of leg ulcers in subjects with chronic venous insufficiency]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1999;47:315-9.
  9. Laurora G, Cesarone MR, Belcaro G, et al [Control of the progress of arteriosclerosis in high risk subjects treated with mesoglycan. Measuring the intima media]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1998;46:41-7.
  10. Lewis CJ. Letter to reiterate certain public health and safety concerns to firms manufacturing or importing dietary supplements that contain specific bovine tissues. FDA. Available at: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dspltr05.html.
  11. Lotti T, Celasco G, Tsampau D, et al. Mesoglycan treatment restores defective fibrinolytic potential in cutaneous necrotizing venulitis. Int J Dermatol 1993;32:368-71.
  12. Murray MT. Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements. Rocklin, CA: Prima Health, 1996.
  13. Orlandi G, Viapiano F, Massetani R, et al. Clinical-instrumental evaluation of the effects of mesoglycan sulphate in chronic vascular encephalopathy. Acta Neurol (Napoli) 1991;13:255-60.
  14. Petruzzellis V, Velon A. [Therapeutic action of oral mesoglycan in the pharmacologic treatment of the varicose syndrome and its complications]. Minerva Med 1985;76:543-8.
  15. Postiglione A, De Simone B, Rubba P, et al. Effect of oral mesoglycan on plasma lipoprotein concentration and on lipoprotein lipase activity in primary hyperlipoproteinemia. Pharmacol Res Commun 1984;16:1-8.
  16. Prandoni P, Cattelan AM, Carta M. [Long-term sequelae of deep venous thrombosis of the legs. Experience with mesoglycan]. Ann Ital Med Int 1989;4:378-85.
  17. Raso AM, Maggio D, Trogolo M, et al [Effectiveness of mesoglycan therapy in patients with ischemia of the lower limbs. Preliminary results of a new therapeutic protocol]. Minerva Cardioangiol 1997;45:383-92.
  18. Scondotto G, Catena G, Aloisi D. [Use of mesoglycan in venous pathology]. Minerva Med 1997;88:537-41.
  19. Scondotto G, De Fabritiis A, Guastarobba A, et al [Use of a minor fibrinolytic drug (mesoglycan) in phlebitis]. Minerva Med 1984;75:1733-8.
  20. Vecchio F, Zanchin G, Maggioni F, et al. Mesoglycan in treatment of patients with cerebral ischemia: effects on hemorheologic and hematochemical parameters. Acta Neurol (Napoli) 1993;15:449-56.
  21. Vittoria A, Messa GL, Frigerio C, et al. Effect of a single dose of mesoglycan on the human fibrinolytic system, and the profibrinolytic action of nine daily doses. Int J Tissue React 1988;10:261-6.