Abstract
Background: No consensus exists about the management of iatrogenically induced excessive hypocoagulability episodes. Objective: To compare the two most common therapeutic approaches in such situations (discontinuation of the oral anticoagulant vs. low-dose subcutaneous vitamin K<sub>1</sub>) when acenocoumarol is the normally used anticoagulant. Patients and Methods: The study was retrospective and comparative. Patients received antithrombotic therapy using acenocoumarol. Anticoagulant plasmatic activity was assessed through the international normalized ratio (INR) recorded from December 1994 to December 1997 at two medical centers. Results: INR is brought faster to a safe range in patients treated with low-dose vitamin K<sub>1</sub> (p = 0.01). Their long-term behavior is also more stable and predictable and no resistance to the oral anticoagulant was found. Conclusion: Low-dose vitamin K<sub>1</sub> is a safer therapeutic option compared to simply withholding the oral anticoagulant. Its best scheme of administration, however, has yet to be defined.
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 callDisclaimer: 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.
