Final answer:
Heparin's beneficial effects in DIC are due to its anticoagulant action, which involves the inactivation of clotting factors through the enhancement of antithrombin activity, and anti-inflammatory properties via cell surface interactions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The beneficial effects of heparin in Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) are primarily attributed to its function as an anticoagulant. Heparin acts by enhancing the activity of antithrombin, which inactivates clotting factors such as factor X and impedes the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin, key steps in the clotting cascade.
By doing so, heparin can help to regulate the excessive clotting seen in DIC, thus preventing the extensive formation of clots and maintaining circulation through small blood vessels. Furthermore, heparin also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by binding to heparin sulfate on cell surfaces, playing a role in cell adhesion and interactions, which can be beneficial in the inflammatory aspects of DIC.