TY  - JOUR
T1  - OPtimal anticoagulation therapy in patients with valvular heart disease or atrial fibrillation
AU  - McLeod CJ, Gersh BJ
Y1  - 2009/11/23
N1  - 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.420
JO  - Archives of Internal Medicine
SP  - 2032
EP  - 2033
VL  - 169
IS  - 21
N2  - 
The recent study by Torn et al1 provides an interesting and insightful prospective analysis of the optimal anticoagulant strategy using vitamin K antagonists. The incidence of major thromboembolic events in 3 patient groups (mechanical heart valves, AF, and myocardial infarction) was analyzed and compared with the incidence of major hemorrhage. As a result of this study, the authors suggest that perhaps a target INR of 3.0 should be used for AF and mechanical heart valves, while an INR of 3.5 should be achieved in those patients who have sustained a myocardial infarction. The nature of the outcome events, however, may be important in modifying these conclusions.

SN  - 0003-9926
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archinternmed.2009.420
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.420
ER  -