1. Evaluation of the marker of hypercoagulability prothrombin fragment F 1+2 in patients with mechanical or biological heart valve prostheses.
- Author
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Ferreira CN, Vieira LM, Dusse LM, Amaral CF, de Magalhães Esteves WA, Fenelon LM, and das Graças Carvalho M
- Subjects
- Administration, Oral, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anticoagulants therapeutic use, Aspirin therapeutic use, Biomarkers blood, Female, Humans, International Normalized Ratio, Male, Middle Aged, Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors therapeutic use, Prothrombin, Prothrombin Time, Thrombophilia prevention & control, Warfarin therapeutic use, Bioprosthesis, Heart Valve Prosthesis, Peptide Fragments blood, Thrombophilia blood
- Abstract
Objective: To investigate whether patients with heart valve prostheses and similar International Normalized Ratios (INR) have the same level of protection against thromboembolic events, that is, whether the anticoagulation intensity is related to the intensity of hypercoagulability suppression., Methods: INR and plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) were assessed in blood samples of 27 patients (7 with mechanical heart valves and 20 with biological heart valves) and 27 blood samples from healthy donors that were not taking any medication., Results: Increased levels of F1+2 were observed in blood samples of 5 patients with heart valve prostheses taking warfarin. These findings reinforce the idea that even though patients may have INRs, within the therapeutic spectrum, they are not free from new thromboembolic events., Conclusion: Determination of the hypercoagulability marker F1+2 might result in greater efficacy and safety for the use of oral anticoagulants, resulting in improved quality of life for patients.
- Published
- 2002
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