ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY: ELIMINATION OF SOME COMMONLY OCCURRING PITFALLS

Abstract

Anticoagulants were given to more than 5000 patients during the last 5 years. Prothrombin levels were determined exclusively by a modification of Owren''s method, using a dried reference standard and a special anticoagulant for preservation of prothrombin activity. The incidence of bleeding only slightly exceeded that to be expected in untreated patients. There have been no deaths attributed to anticoagulants. The presentation concerns rationale of anticoagulant selection, recommended techniques of therapeutic management, and critical analysis of laboratory methods for measurement of prothrombin.