Some of our patients require anticoagulants (blood-thinners). When aspirin or clopidogrel (Plavix) are insufficient to prevent blood clots or strokes, warfarin (Coumadin) is commonly prescribed.  This treatment is commonly used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, a common disturbance of heart rhythm. Patients with mechanical prosthetic heart valves also require treatment with warfarin. Warfarin therapy requires careful monitoring, because inadequate doses will not prevent blood clots and excessive doses predispose to bleeding complications. Furthermore, warfarin therapy interacts with diet and with many commonly used medications, including antibiotics.

Our patients who require anticoagulation with warfarin are monitored regularly in our anticoagulation clinic, managed routinely by our advanced and specially-trained nurses under supervision of the cardiologists.

Patients can have their anticoagulation status checked with a quick “finger-stick”, with immediate availability of (prothrombin-time / INR) results so that dosage adjustments of warfarin therapy (if needed) can be immediately conveyed.

The practice has participated in clinical trials assessing novel blood-thinning medications. It is likely that someday soon, some patients will be able to use other medications with at least equal efficacy, and with less need for routine monitoring.