Variability in the control of oral anticoagulant therapy has been associated with a heightened risk of complications. We compared control of anticoagulation between two commonly used coumarins, phenprocoumon and acenocoumarol, and among anticoagulation clinics. All qualifying patients were managed at six regional anticoagulation clinics in the Netherlands. This retrospective cohort study compil...

The utility of thrombolysis in patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) remains controversial, although anticoagulation therapy for APTE is well-established in Western countries. Nonetheless, large clinical trials of antithrombotic treatments for APTE have yet to be performed in Japan. In the present study, the association between antithrombotic treatments (thrombolysis and anticoag...

Patients receiving warfarin who have unstable control of anticoagulation have a significantly lower intake of dietary vitamin K compared with their stable counterparts. We hypothesized that supplementation with oral vitamin K would improve stability in patients with previously unstable control of anticoagulation. Seventy warfarin-treated patients with unstable anticoagulation control were rando...

The risk of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) approaches 40 per cent of all patients after 10 yr of follow up. This risk is higher in patients with permanent risk factors of thrombosis such as active cancer, prolonged immobilization from medical diseases, and antiphospholipid syndrome; in carriers of several thrombophilic abnormalities, including deficiencies of natural anticoagulants; and...

Bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy is now being studied for the treatment of malignant gliomas. However, the risk of intracranial hemorrhage has limited its use in patients requiring full anticoagulation for venous thrombosis. To assess the safety of using anticoagulation with bevacizumab, we conducted a retrospective review of our patients who were treated with bevacizumab while rece...

BACKGROUND Abdominal pain is a common primary care complaint. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare cause of abdominal pain, typically associated with cirrhosis or thrombophilia. The following describes the presentation of PVT in a young male, the search for risk factors and underlying etiology, and the debate of anticoagulation therapy. CASE A 28-year-old male presented with periumbilical p...

INTRODUCTION Therapeutic anticoagulation is an important treatment of thromboembolic complications, such as DVT, PE, and blunt cerebrovascular injury. Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage has traditionally been considered to be a contraindication to anticoagulation. HYPOTHESIS Therapeutic anticoagulation can be safely accomplished in select patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. METH...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Anticoagulation reduces the risk of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation yet remains underused. We explored barriers to the use of anticoagulants among Australian family physicians. METHODS The authors conducted a representative, national survey. RESULTS Of the 596 (64.4%) eligible family physicians who participated, 15.8% reported having a patient with nonvalvul...