Ethanolamine oleate is a salt of ethanolamine, a basic substance, and oleic acid. It is marketed under a trade name of Ethamoline as a sclerotic agent for the treatment of patients with esophageal varices that have recently bled, to prevent rebleeding. In vitro studies revealed that ethanolamine oleate inhibits fibrin clot formation because of the Ca2+-chelating ability of its constituent ethanolamine. Nevertheless, from in vivo studies it was suggested that intravascular injection of ethamoline activates the local coagulation system. The activation may be accelerated by an acute inflammatory process provoked by oleate, which is supported by such clinical manifestations as mild fever, retrosternal pain leukocytosis and an increase in plasma fibrinogen level.