THE VALUE OF CONTINUOUS (1 TO 10 YEARS) LONG-TERM ANTICOAGULANT THERAPY

Abstract

The value of continuous long-term anticoagulant therapy was observed on 712 patients with one or more myocardial infarctions to determine the incidence of subsequent infarction, mortality, congestive heart failure, and survival in patient-years. Alternate patients received an oral anticoagulant and a placebo of ascorbic acid. Blood prothrombin determinations were made once a week or twice a month. After ten years, there remained 404 patients who had continued, the medical regimen outlined. The incidence of subsequent myocardial infarction in the anticoagulant group was 1/3 of the control. The mortality rate in the control series was 8 times that of the anticoagulant group. Hemor-rhagic complications occurred in 3%. Bleeding was corrected by Vitamin K1 administration without hospitalization. Therapeutic advantages from anticoagulant therapy are greater than the hazard of hemorrhage.