Sintron® (acenocoumarol) is the most widely prescribed anticoagulant in Spain and is prescribed for the treatment or prevention of thrombotic complications [1-3]. The management of acenocoumarol is complicated by its narrow therapeutic window which necessitates regular blood monitoring to ensure the safety and efficacy of the therapy [1,2]. The international normalized ratio (INR) was developed...

KEY CLINICAL MESSAGE We present a case in which to of fetal subdural hematoma developing despite that the maternal the prothrombin time by international normalized ratio (PT/INR) during pregnancy was within the normal range.

BACKGROUND There is a need for dependable quality assessment (QA) of the widely used CoaguChek point-of-care testing prothrombin time monitor. By use of the prescribed set of 5 CoaguChek certified international normalized ratio (INR) QA plasmas, we compared the reliability of the immediate QA of individual monitors described in the European Community-recommended Technology Implementation Plan w...

The Ciba Corning Biotrack 512 coagulation monitor requires a minimal degree of technical expertise to operate, and is already in use for near-patient testing. This study evaluated the monitor for possible use in decentralised control of oral anticoagulant treatment. The monitor compared well with Manchester Reagent, suggesting that it could be used in areas where this thromboplastin is used for...

BACKGROUND International Normalized Ratios (INRs) for prothrombin time obtained with the CoaguChek Mini and TAS (RapidPointCoag) PT-NC systems are markedly different and also differ from the "true" INR. There is therefore a need for local quality assessment (QA) of the two systems. METHODS A set of 60 lyophilized artificially depleted and 60 lyophilized coumarin plasmas were tested at 10 cent...

Prothrombin time (PT) is clinically important and is used to monitor oral anticoagulant therapy. To obtain PT results in international normalized ratio (INR), the current standardization procedure is complex and involves reference reagents. The PT of diluted plasma samples can be determined with a combined thromboplastin (the Owren-type procedure), but not necessarily with a plain thromboplasti...

AIMS To examine the reliability of international normalised ratio (INR) determination on samples stored as whole blood for up to two days at room temperature. METHODS The INR of 40 patients receiving oral anticoagulants was determined on fresh blood and on samples stored for 24 and 48 hours, using five locally calibrated prothrombin time systems. These incorporated Manchester reagent, Recombi...

Oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) has a well-established efficacy in prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic disorders. Because complications are related to intensity of OAT, optimal control of treatment is mandatory. In studies of OAT, as many as 30% of International Normalized Ratio (INR) measurements for prothrombin times fall outside the therapeutic interval. Preanalytical, analytical, a...

AIMS The primary objective was to explore the pharmacodynamic changes during transition from rivaroxaban to warfarin in healthy subjects. Safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics were assessed as secondary objectives. METHODS An open label, non-randomized, sequential two period study. In treatment period 1 (TP1), subjects received rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily (5 days), followed by co-adminis...

The Quick prothrombin time is the most common clotting test performed, principally for monitoring oral anticoagulant therapy. The International Normalized Ratio (INR) for comparing patient results from prothrombin time measurements and the International Standardized Index (ISI) for achieving greater consistency of results using different thromboplastins have made it possible to compare the resu...