Abstract
To the Editor.— Dr. T. W. Williams, Jr., in responding to a question (228:1297, 1974), stated that is now fairly general agreement that the use of anticoagulants is hazardous in patients with infective endocarditis. My colleagues and I agree that there is such agreement, but submit that the evidence on which such agreement is based is limited. Infected emboli are associated with hemorrhage, but available evidence does not show that anticoagulants make a difference in either incidence or severity of such hemorrhage. Thus, it is our view that the common wisdom in this area needs reexamination. This is particularly so in patients with infective endocarditis who have a coincident indication for anticoagulant therapy (eg, venous thrombosis) and in patients with septic pelvic thrombophlebitis in whom heparin appears to have a positive therapeutic effect—yet in whom infective endocarditis also may be present.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
