Developing venous gangrene in deep vein thrombosis: intraarterial low-dose burst therapy with urokinase--case reports

Two patients with developing venous gangrene of the lower extremity and contraindications to systemic thrombolytic therapy are presented. Low-dose intraarterial burst therapy with urokinase provided rapid amelioration of symptoms and avoided amputation without any serious bleeding complications in both patients.

[Risk patients in dentistry]

Authors study the risk diseases in dental practice. They analyze the possible complications and the methods of their prevention in each risk group. They take deal with the importance of antibiotic prophylaxis, the problems of local anaesthesia and the management of patients who suffer from coagulation disturbances. They present the management of risk patients in two cases. They emphasize the importance of anamnestic history in every case before dental treatment.

Low molecular weight heparin versus acenocoumarol in the secondary prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous weight-adjusted dose low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) compared with oral anticoagulant (OA) in the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism. In a prospective multicenter trial, 202 patients with symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were included. As soon as the diagnosis of DVT was confirmed by phlebography, 101 were randomly assigned to receive LMWH (nadroparin) for secondary prophylaxis and 101 to receive OA (acenocoumarol). Patients in both groups were initially treated with nadroparin in a dose of 85 anti-Xa IU/kg s.c. every 12 h. Secondary prophylaxis with either nadroparin, 85 anti-Xa IU/kg s. c. once daily, or acenocoumarol was continued for at least 3 months. Three patients in the LMWH group and 6 in the OA group were excluded from analysis for various reasons. During the one-year combined secondary prophylaxis and surveillance period, 7 of of the 98 evaluable patients (7.1%) in the LMWH group and 9 of the 95 evaluable patients (9.5%) in the OA group had a documented recurrence of venous thromboembolism (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.61). Of these, 2 patients who received LMWH and 7 patients on acenocoumarol had recurrences in the 3-month period of secondary prophylaxis. Four patients (4.1%) in the LMWH group developed bleeding complications during this study period, as compared with 7 (7.4%) in the OA group (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.37). There were two major bleedings, one in the LMWH group and one in the OA group. Eleven patients died, 5 (5.1%) in the LMWH group and 6 (6.3%) in the OA group. It is concluded that nadroparin in a dose of 85 anti-Xa IU/kg s.c. once daily provides an effective and safe alternative to oral anticoagulants in the secondary prophylaxis of DVT.

Warfarin or acenocoumarol: which is better in the management of oral anticoagulants?

Warfarin is employed more frequently than acenocoumarol because of its longer half-life (36 h), theoretically providing more stable anticoagulation, and avoiding factor VII fluctuations that potentially occur during acenocoumarol treatment (half-life 10 h). The aim of our study was to compare acenocoumarol with warfarin in the same group of 103 patients who started oral anticoagulation with acenocoumarol and then changed to warfarin. In these patients we compared the previous period of six months on acenocoumarol treatment (July-December 1996) with a new six-month period on warfarin (July-December 1997). We wished to know whether warfarin could improve the quality and the stability of oral anticoagulation of our patients and whether there was a difference between the two drugs in the weekly mean dose per patient. Moreover in order to detect the possible daily fluctuation of factor VII, we evaluated a further group of 54 patients. A subgroup of these patients was treated with warfarin while another received acenocoumarol. In the first group of patients, 1,158 and 1,064 PTs were carried out with acenocoumarol and warfarin, respectively. The percentage of PTs in the therapeutic range was 59% with acenocoumarol and 62% with warfarin (p=0.4). The mean number of visits per patient was 12 and 11, and the mean number of visits in the therapeutic range was 7 and 7, respectively. The last check in file method did not show any difference between the two drugs. Overdose states were 51 (4.4%) with acenocoumarol and 30 (2.8%) with warfarin (p=0.4). A good correlation (r=0.92) was found between the acenocoumarol and the warfarin weekly mean dose. The mean warfarin/acenocoumarol weekly dose ratio was 2.08 (range: 1.25-3.30; CI 95%: 1.99-2.16). In the second group of patients, factor VII levels with both drugs were higher 24 h after administration than 16 h after, showing that their daily fluctuation was independent of the drug's half-life, since factor VII levels in patients with a low vitamin K intake were not increased. Our results showed that warfarin did not appear to be better than acenocoumarol in the performance of an Anticoagulation Clinic in terms of PTs within the therapeutic range per patient. It seems that the behaviour of factor VII was affected by the intake of vitamin K rather than by the short half-life of acenocoumarol.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variations of acenocoumarol orally administrated either once or twice daily in patients with deep venous thrombosis

The literature suggests that variations in anticoagulant effect occur when acenocoumarol is administrated in a daily dose. We assessed the anticoagulant effects of acenocoumarol with INR, factors VII and X and protein C in 12 randomly selected hospitalised patients with deep-vein thrombosis, six of them receiving a daily dose of acenocoumarol, the other six receiving twice daily doses. When the drug effect had been at a steady-state for at least 72 h, five blood samples were drawn per patient over a period of 24 h. No nycthemeral significant variations were noted for INR, factor X and protein C in the two groups (P > 0.10). Nycthemeral significant variation in factor VII when acenocoumarol was administered once daily was noted (P = 0.02), but the clinical relevance of factor VII variation at steady-state is uncertain. In spite of the short pharmacokinetic half-life of acenocoumarol, a stable nycthemeral pharmacodynamic activity was observed after once daily administration; twice-daily administration of acenocoumarol does not appear to be justified.

[Oral anticoagulation in the secondary prevention of cerebrovascular disease. Long-term follow-up of 169 patients]

INTRODUCTION

Although the indications for oral anticoagulation (AO) in the treatment of cerebral vascular disease (CVD) are well established, their potential side effects continue to give cause for worry.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the complications and ischemic relapses in patients treated with AO for secondary prevention of CVD of cardiac embolic origin.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included 169 patients with embologenic cardiopathy who, following an CVD, were treated with AO and followed-up at our medical centre for at least three months. We recorded their past clinical history and risk factors, occurrence of vascular relapses (VR), complications involving hemorrhage (CH), and data regarding course and follow-up.

RESULTS

During an average follow-up of 50.3 months of a total of 707.9 patient/years, 20 VR (2.8% per year) were recorded; 15 of these were cerebro-vascular and mainly mild. We recorded 59 CH in 41 patients (8.3% per year) of which 6 were considered to be major. There was a 30% drop-out rate from follow-up at our centre, mainly due to death from other causes or to change of referral centre.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a low incidence of relapse and of complications (usually mild) following AO for the secondary prevention of CVD of cardio-embolic origin. Efficacy and security are maintained in the long term.

The effect of recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven) in healthy volunteers receiving acenocoumarol to an International Normalized Ratio above 2.0

Vitamin K antagonists are most commonly used in long-term thrombosis prophylaxis and the use in patients with cardiovascular disease seems to be increasing. By interfering with the normal hemostatic mechanism, an increased risk of bleeding will arise and administration of human plasma or prothrombin complex concentrates may be necessary. It can be difficult to normalize hemostasis using plasma and prothrombin complex concentrates, because these may be associated with thromboembolic side-effects. The level of factor VII, one of the vitamin-K-dependent coagulation factors, decreases during oral anticoagulant therapy and the administration of recombinant factor VIIa normalizes the prolonged prothrombin time in warfarin-treated rats. After administration of acenocoumarol (International Normalized Ratio > 2), decreased levels of factor X and factor IX (19-46%), protein C (2-20%) and factor VII (4-17%) were found in 28 healthy volunteers. After one dose of recombinant factor VIIa (5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 120, 160, 240, or 320 microg/kg) the International Normalized Ratio and prothrombin time normalized, which may imply an effect on bleeding in individuals receiving oral anticoagulant therapy. The lowest dose (5 microg/kg) normalized the International Normalized Ratio for 12 h and doses > 120 microg/kg normalized it for 24 h. Fragment 1+2 stayed within its normal range in all dose groups, indicating that no systemic coagulation occurred.

[Comparison of Quick/INR values of whole capillary blood (CoaguChek Plus) and venous citrate plasma in patients with and without oral anticoagulation]

BACKGROUND

The prothrombin time, also called thromboplastin time ("Quick"), is usually measured by using citrated plasma from venous blood. Recently, portable coagulation monitors have been developed which measure prothrombin time using non-anticoagulated capillary whole blood from a finger-stick. In the present study we evaluated the CoaguChek Plus coagulation monitor in comparison with a standard laboratory method in various patient groups: patients on oral anticoagulation with or without heparinisation, patients receiving heparin without oral anticoagulation, patients with a deficiency of one of the coagulation factors of the extrinsic or common pathway, and patients with liver disease. Furthermore, we studied the influence of the haemoglobin concentration on the test results.

METHOD

Capillary prothrombin time was measured by using the portable coagulation monitor CoaguChek Plus and venous prothrombin time was assessed by using Thromborel S.

RESULTS

We found a correlation coefficient of 0.94 between capillary and venous INR values in 216 determinations from 167 patients. The slope of the regression line was 1.03, and the y-intercept 0.05, 93.5% of the results were within 0.9, 90.7% within 0.7, and 83.8% within 0.5 INR units. Similar results were obtained in patients on oral anticoagulation, patients with a deficiency of a factor of the extrinsic system and in patients with liver disease. Correlation and agreement were somewhat lower among patients on oral anticoagulation and simultaneous heparinisation (40 patients): correlation coefficient was 0.83, slope of the regression line was 0.87 and y-intercept was 0.27 INR units. No influence of the haemoglobin concentration on INR results could be demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

Our results show the CoaguChek Plus coagulation monitor to be a valuable tool for measuring prothrombin time in patients on oral anticoagulation, in patients with liver disease to estimate the capacity of protein synthesis, and to screen for possible deficiencies of one of the coagulation factors of the extrinsic or common pathway. However, based on our preliminary data we cannot recommend the use of the CoaguChek Plus coagulation monitor in heparinised patients.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic problems of sponaneous retroperitoneal hematoma]

The authors report four cases of spontaneous retroperitoneal haematomas, which occurred in their department during a half year period. The patients were admitted from different internal medicine departments. They had anaemia, and bleeding with unknown origin and localisation, and were in a bad condition. Three patients could be suitable for operation after general preparation. One of these patients died and another one died without operation. Two of them went home after recovering. The patients were transferred to surgical department on average three days after the symptoms developed. Hypoprothrombinaemia was the reason for bleeding in three cases. One patient got overdosed Syncumar, and two patients suffered from alcoholic cirrhosis who had other serious diseases as well. The authors found that the fourth patient, who had the gluteal arterial rupture with inexplicable origin, also had hypoprothrombinaemia. It is very difficult to diagnose these disease. Bleeding always has to be taken into consideration, if the patients have liver disease, or any type of coagulopathy, or take some anticoagulant medicine. The blood test examinations, ultrasound, CT, MR, angiography, laparoscopy can be helpful in the diagnosis of these cases.

Acquired hemophilia secondary to factor VIII inhibitors after pregnancy

We report the case of a 26 year-old woman who developed acquired hemophilia secondary to factor VIII inhibitors, two months after a normal pregnancy. The initial hemorrhagic event was a spontaneous deep muscular hematoma mimicking a deep venous thrombosis. This observation was marqued by the apparition of antibodies against porcin factor VIII under treatment by porcin factor VIII. Intravenous immunoglobulin was ineffective, then cyclophosphamide was necessary to control the disease.

[Safety of oral anticoagulation in aged patients with heart diseases]

BACKGROUND

Anticoagulation therapy in the elderly poses some doubts on the possible increase in hemorrhagic risk. The hemorrhagic complications in a population of patients over 70 years of age anticoagulated with acenocoumarol by heart disease were studied.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A study was made of seventy-two patients (43 females and 29 males; mean age: 73 years) anticoagulated for one year and controlled on an outpatient basis by means of INR (international normalized ratio) measurement with a maximal interval of four weeks. INR values above 4.5 or below 2.0 were considered out of range.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients had an INR above the recommended value on one occasion and eleven patients on two or more occasions. Sixteen patients had hemorrhagic complications, five were admitted on account of hemorrhages although none of them required transfusional therapy. No cases of brain hemorrhage or peripheral embolism occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Most anticoagulated elderly patients were within their therapeutic range. The percentage of severe hemorrhagic complications was low. Advanced age had did not prove to be a factor against therapy with oral anticoagulants.

[Comparative study of 2 antithrombotic regimens in 75 patients with coronary endoprostheses]

PURPOSE

To compare systemic anticoagulation with antiaggregation in patients with coronary stent, with regard to subacute occlusion, mean hospital staying and haemorrhagic complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seventy-five patients with coronary stent were treated with one of two different antithrombotic protocols. A group comprised of 34 patients (group A) received sodium heparin and acenocoumarin, plus acetylsalicylic acid (325 mg) and dipyridamole (225 mg). The remaining 41 patients (group B) were given antiplatelet agents, namely ticlopidine (125-250 mg) and aspirin (125 mg).

RESULTS

One case of group A (2.9%) showed thrombosis due to stent occlusion. No thrombotic complications were seen in the patients with antiplatelet drugs. Haemorrhagic complications were present in 11 group A patients (32.3%), and blood transfusion was necessary in 3 of them. Hemorrhage was present in 9 cases of group B (21.8%), and none of them needed blood transfusion. The mean number of days to achieve INR > 2 was 3.06 (1-11) in group and 2.02 (1-5) in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Antiplatelet regimes appear as a good choice in coronary stent, in spite of the fact that the primary indication seems that of group A.

Recombinant tissue type plasminogen activator treatment of thrombosed mitral valve prosthesis during pregnancy

PURPOSE

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis occurring during pregnancy is a life-threatening complication. Surgical treatment requires clot removal under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and carries a high mortality. We describe the successful use of thrombolytic therapy for recurrent thrombosed valve prosthesis in a pregnant patient.

CLINICAL FEATURES

A 32-yr-old patient whose pregnancy was complicated by two episodes of a thrombosed St Jude mitral prosthesis is reported. The first episode occurred at 20 wk of pregnancy during the change of oral anticoagulant therapy (acenocoumarol 4 mg a day) to sc heparin. As the patient was in cardiogenic shock, the valve thrombus was treated by clot removal under CPB., with a cross clamp time of 32 min, a perfusion pressure above 70 mmHG. There was no fetal cardiac rhythm during CPB which lasted < 45 min. The second episode occurred at the 28th gestational week in a patient in cardiogenic shock and because reoperation was thought to carry too high a risk, the thrombus was successfully treated with 50 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activators (rtPA) i.v. Following this, the course of pregnancy was uneventful and carried to term and the patient delivered vaginally. Pain relief was achieved with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with alfentanil (bolus 100 mug; lock out = five minutes). Although rtPA has been used before, this is the first report in which pregnancy was carried to term and standard vaginal delivery performed.

CONCLUSION

This case provides evidence for the efficacy and relative safety of rtPA as thrombolytic therapy in the treatment of haemodynamically compromised valve heart thrombosis in pregnancy.

[Hemorrhagic complications and thrombotic phenomena in oral anticoagulation of elderly patients]

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively analyze the hemorrhagic complications and thrombotic events associated with aging and the degree of anticoagulation in a series of ambulatory patients treated with acenocumarol and controlled in a specialized anticoagulant therapy unit.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 1,613 ambulatory patients were studied. Patients were divided into two groups (group 1, 645 patients > 65 years old, mean age 71.7 +/- 4.5 years; INR, 2.1-2.8; group 2, 968 patients < or = 65 years, mean age 53.7 +/- 10 years; INR, 2.8-4.2) for a time period of twelve months. The prevalence of hemorrhagic complications and severity according to a validated international index (Bleeding Severity Index), as well as the thrombotic events occurred despite anticoagulation therapy.

RESULTS

Fifty-two hemorrhagic events (8/100 patients-year) were recorded in the older group (group 1). Twenty-six cases were considered banal episodes, 24 minor hemorrhages and two major hemorrhages. Ten patients (1.5/100 patients-year) had thrombotic complications. In the younger group (group 2) 150 bleeding episodes were recorded (15 patients-year), of which 11 were banal, 39 minor hemorrhages and no major hemorrhages. Only eight patients 0.8/100 patients-year) had thrombosis. The presence of local factors predisposing to bleeding was more common in group 1 (p < 0.001). Older patients had in general more complications than younger patients (p < 0.001), but no significant differences were observed between the occurrence of hemorrhages or thrombosis independently analyzed between both groups. The rate in the therapeutic range was greater among the youngest individuals (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the idea that patients with advanced age can benefit from a less aggressive anticoagulation. A statistical trend was observed, although not significant, towards the presence of major hemorrhages and thrombosis in this group of patients. The presence of local or predisposing factors to hemorrhage (underlying disease and NSAIDs use) is more relevant in patients with advanced age.

Evolution of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters after abrupt versus gradual withdrawal of acenocoumarol in patients with venous thromboembolism: a double-blind randomized study

A double-blind randomized trial was conducted to research a hypercoagulable state rebound after abrupt versus gradual withdrawal of acenocoumarol, 20 patients were included: 10 in the abrupt withdrawal group (AW) and 10 in the gradual withdrawal group (GW). Between days 1 and 15,F1 + 2 was higher in group AW (P < 0.002). A significant increase of D-dimer with time was found (P < 0.001) without difference between the two groups, tPA and PAI-1 levels remained stable throughout without difference between the two groups. No rebound phenomenon was observed. Four thrombotic recurrences were observed: group AW: 1, group GW: 3 (P = 0.29). There is neither clinical nor biological support for a gradual anticoagulation withdrawal.

Risk factors for bleeding during treatment of acute venous thromboembolism

OBJECTIVE

Identification of risk factors for bleeding and prospective evaluation of two bleeding risk scores in the treatment of acute venous thromboembolism.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of a prospective, randomized, assessorblind, multicenter clinical trial.

SETTING

One university and 2 regional teaching hospitals.

PATIENTS

188 patients treated with heparin or danaparoid for acute venous thromboembolism.

MEASUREMENTS

The presenting clinical features, the doses of the drugs, and the anticoagulant responses were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis in order to evaluate prognostic factors for bleeding. In addition, the recently developed Utrecht bleeding risk score and Landefeld bleeding risk index were evaluated prospectively.

RESULTS

Major bleeding occurred in 4 patients (2.1%) and minor bleeding in 101 patients (53.7%). For all (major and minor combined) bleeding, body surface area < or = 2 m2 (odds ratio 2.3, 95% CI 1.2-4.4; p = 0.01), and malignancy (odds ratio 2.4, 95% CI 1.1-4.9; p = 0.02) were confirmed to be independent risk factors. An increased treatment-related risk of bleeding was observed in patients treated with high doses of heparin, independent of the concomitant activated partial thromboplastin time ratios. Both bleeding risk scores had low diagnostic value for bleeding in this sample of mainly minor bleeders.

CONCLUSIONS

A small body surface area and malignancy were associated with a higher frequency of bleeding. The bleeding risk scores merely offer the clinician a general estimation of the risk of bleeding. In patients with a small body surface area or in patients with malignancy, it may be of interest to study whether limited dose reduction of the anticoagulant drug may cause less bleeding without affecting efficacy.

Stereoselective interaction between piroxicam and acenocoumarol

1. An open-label study was performed to assess the effect of piroxicam on the pharmacokinetics of acenocoumarol enantiomers. 2. Eight healthy male volunteers received an oral dose of 4 mg rac-acenocoumarol on days 1 and 8, plus 40 mg piroxicam orally 2 h before the anticoagulant on day 8. R- and S-acenocoumarol, piroxicam and their metabolites were measured in plasma over a 24 h interval. 3. The pharmacokinetics of R-acenocoumarol were markedly modified by piroxicam: Cmax+28.0% (s.d.23.8), P < 0.05; AUC(0, 24 h)+47.2% (21.5), P < 0.005; and t1/2 +38.0% (34.5), P < 0.01. A concomitant decrease of CL/F was observed: -30.8% (10.0), P < 0.0001. A similar, but statistically non-significant trend, was observed on the S-enantiomer: Cmax: +9.5% (s.d.36.6), AUC(0, 24 h): + 15.4% (23.4), t1/2: +19.9% (42.0), and CL/F: -9.8% (20.5). V/F remained unchanged for both enantiomers. 4. Piroxicam plasma AUC(0, 24 h) correlated closely with R- and S-acenocoumarol AUCs on day 1 (r = 0.901, P < 0.005 and r = 0.797, P < 0.05, respectively), as well as with the difference of AUC between days 1 and 8 for R-acenocoumarol (r = 0.903, P < 0.001) and S-acenocoumarol (r = 0.711, P < 0.05). 5. Piroxicam markedly reduced acenocoumarol enantiomer clearance, with a greater effect on the more active R-isomer. This interaction, which occurs in addition to the well documented pharmacodynamic one (effect on platelets), is expected to result in increased anticoagulant effect.

Oral surgery in anticoagulated patients without reducing the dose of oral anticoagulant: a prospective randomized study

PURPOSE

This study assessed the risk associated with several schedules of perioperative treatment with coumadin in anticoagulated patients who underwent oral surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective, randomized study compared bleeding complications with six perioperative schedules in 92 patients chronically treated with acenocoumarol. In three of the perioperative schedules, the dose was reduced before surgery and calcium heparin was added. In the other three, oral anticoagulation was not modified and heparin was not used. The groups also differed regarding the antifibrinolytic agents used and the postoperative measures applied.

RESULTS

Those schedules in which the oral anticoagulation was not modified preoperatively and an antifibrinolytic agent was applied locally both during and after surgery were not associated with a significantly higher odds ratio of bleeding complications than those in whom oral anticoagulation was reduced and calcium heparin was added preoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

In orally anticoagulated patients who undergo oral surgery, schedules that maintain the oral anticoagulant regimen and use local tranexamic acid as an antifibrinolytic agent postoperatively for 2 days are safe, simple, and less troublesome.

[Risk and prevention of thromboembolism complications in gynecologic malignancies]

Gynecologic malignancies are often associated with deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, even before treatment is begun. But such complications also happen during treatment, also if thromboembolism prophylaxis is performed. The incidence of pulmonary embolism before treatment was investigated using scintigraphy. In a retrospective and in a prospective randomized trial, various methods of thromboembolism prophylaxis were evaluated during primary or postoperative radiation therapy. Pulmonary embolism was present in 11.9% of the patients admitted with uterine malignancy. Retrospectively, there were deep vein thromboses in 6.8%, pulmonary embolisms in 3.8% and bleeding complications in 5.3% of the patients receiving thromboembolism prophylaxis with acenocoumarol during radiation therapy of cervical and endometrial cancer. In the prospective study, deep vein thromboses occurred in 1.5%, pulmonary embolisms in 5.9% and bleedings in 2.2%, with both the LMW heparin and the acenocoumarol groups presenting similar results. Thromboembolism is a frequent paraneoplasia of uterine malignancies. The prevention of thromboembolic complications during radiation therapy of uterine malignancies is efficacious and safe using either LMW heparin or acenocoumarol.

[The effect of prolonged acenocoumarol therapy on bone density]

The effect of chronic cumarin treatment on bone mineral content was investigated. Bone mineral density was determined by double photon densitometry (Lunar DPXL). The density data (mean +/- SE) of 45 cardiac patients (age: 57.0 = +/- 6.3 y, body mass index: 26.7 +/- 3.8 kp/m2, cardiac stadium score, according to New York Heart Association: 2-3), had been treated by acenocumarol at least for 2 years (duration of treatment: 75.0 +/- 52 months), were compared to the values of 45 age, body mass index, cardiac status matched patients not treated by anticoagulant. The density values of L2-L4 lumbar regions were lower in the treated group (1.041 +/- 0.17 vs. controlls: 1.13 +/- 0.15 g/cm2, p < 0.05), while no differences in ultradistal ulnar and radial regions were detected. No correlation between bone mineral density and the length, or the dose of the cumarin treatment were observed. This observation suggests the importance of the regular bone densitometry control of cumarin treated patient.

Optimal oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with mechanical heart valves

BACKGROUND

The optimal intensity of oral anticoagulant therapy for patients with mechanical heart valves (i.e., the level at which thromboembolic complications are effectively prevented without excessive bleeding) is not known. We attempted to determine the optimal intensity by calculating the incidence of both complications at different levels of anticoagulation.

METHODS

Data were collected on all patients with mechanical heart valves who have been seen at four regional Dutch anticoagulation clinics since 1985. The primary outcome events were episodes of thromboembolism or major bleeding. The intensity-specific incidence of each type of event was calculated as the number of events that occurred at a certain intensity of anticoagulation (expressed in terms of the international normalized ratio [INR]) divided by the number of patient-years during which the INR was at this level in the total patient population.

RESULTS

A total of 1608 patients were followed during 6475 patient-years. Cerebral embolism occurred in 43 patients (0.68 per 100 patient-years) and peripheral embolism in 2 (0.03 per 100 patient-years). Intracranial and spinal bleeding occurred in 36 patients (0.57 per 100 patient-years) and major extracranial bleeding in 128 (2.1 per 100 patient-years). The optimal intensity of anticoagulation, at which the incidence of both complications was lowest, was achieved when the INR was between 2.5 and 4.9.

CONCLUSIONS

The intensity of anticoagulant therapy for patients with prosthetic heart valves is optimal when the INR is between 2.5 and 4.9. To achieve this level of anticoagulation, a target INR of 3.0 to 4.0 is recommended.

Low-intensity oral anticoagulation in sickle-cell disease reverses the prethrombotic state: promises for treatment?

Increased plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) found in patients with sickle-cell disease reflect enhanced endogenous thrombin generation. We postulate that hypercoagulability contributes to vaso-occlusion. The intensity of acenocoumarol treatment required to reduce the F1 + 2 level to 50% of pretreatment level was investigated in seven patients with symptomatic sickle-cell anaemia during steady-state disease for a period of 2 months. All patients had increased levels of F1 + 2 compared with an age-matched control group. Normalization of the F1 + 2 was achieved at a median INR of 1.64 (range 1.18-2.2). It is concluded that low-intensity oral anticoagulation normalizes the hypercoagulability in sickle-cell disease.

[Hemorrhagic incidents during prolonged ambulatory treatment with acenocoumarol]

BACKGROUND

To analyze hemorrhagic complications in a series of outpatients treated with acenocoumarol in an anticoagulant specialized unit by a prospective observational clinical study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

1,200 outpatients (682 women/518 men, mean age 54.6 +/- 15.8 yrs.) treated with acenocoumarol for at least 6 weeks, with a total follow-up of 2,795 patients-yr. Prevalence and incidence of bleeding was analyzed. The episodes that were potentially life-threatening, or forced to blood transfusion or hospital patient admittance were considered as major bleedings, and the remainder episodes were minor.

RESULTS

There were 379 minor bleedings in 258 patients (incidence 13.56/100 patients-yr.), 45 major bleedings (1.61/100 patients-yr.) and 2 lethal bleedings (0.07/100 patients-yr.). Minor bleedings correlated with more advanced age (57.3 +/- 11.8 vs. 53.9 +/- 16.7 yrs., p = 0.002), with the first two months in treatment in the 511 patients who start the treatment during the study (31.09 vs. 13.04/100 patients-yr., p < 0.001), and with a worse achievement of the desired anticoagulation (72.4% vs. 81.6%; p = 0.002). Major bleeding was associated with local causes in 48.9%, and with an excessive anticoagulation in 35.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Bleeding is relatively frequent during acenocoumarol therapy, mainly in patients with worse control, but only in a few of these episodes is severe, and is usually associated with local lesions.

Retroperitoneal haematoma in a patient treated with acenocoumarol, phenytoin and paroxetine

Coumarin anticoagulants must be strictly monitored because of their narrow therapeutic index and their potential interactions with other drugs. The high probability of interactions can be explained by two pharmacokinetic properties of coumarins: high binding to plasma albumin (99%), being displaced by other drugs with greater affinity to this protein, and metabolism by liver microsomal enzymes (cytochrome P450), which can be induced or inhibited by other compounds (Shinn & Shrewsbury 1985). A case is reported of a clinically relevant drug interaction of phenytoin and acenocoumarol, possibly potentiated by concomitant treatment with paroxetine, leading to a retroperitoneal haematoma.

[Syncumar-induced necrosis following heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis]

The authors describe the combined occurrence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and cumarin-induced skin necrosis, a rare condition that has not yet been reported in Hungary. The 69-year-old woman had received prophylactic heparin treatment prior to total hip arthroplasty. The first complication that the anticoagulant therapy brought about was serious thrombocytopenia paradoxically associated not with bleeding but with deep vein thrombosis. The latter necessitated coumarin therapy which resulted in severe skin necrosis.

[Treatment with oral anticoagulants (acenocoumarol): influence of the initial doses in the incidence of hemorrhagic and thromboembolic episodes]

PURPOSE

To compare two initial doses of oral anticoagulant (acenocoumarin) studying the haemorrhagic and thromboembolic episodes occurred during the first month of treatment, the mean time and necessary controls until achievement of the desired level of anticoagulation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From january 1992 to december 1993; a comparative study of two groups of patients was performed: group 1, compiling 129 patients chosen at random and retrospectively, who begun oral anticoagulant treatment with 4 daily mg of acenocoumarin; and group 2, compiling 129 patients chosen prospectively, who begun with 2 mg daily. In both groups the mean time and the number of controls performed until achieving the desired level of anticoagulation were analyzed, as well as the haemorrhagic episodes occurred during the first month of treatment, their severity (classified into major and minor ones), the level of anticoagulation when they occurred and their possible causes. In the same way the thromboembolic processes occurred during that period in both groups were studied.

RESULTS

The mean time necessary to achieve the desired level of anticoagulation was 3.8 days in group 1 and 6.3 in group 2; the mean number of controls performed in group 1 was 1.2 and in group 2 it was 1.8. We have observed 19 haemorrhagic episodes, 15 in group 1 (4 minor and 11 major); and 4 in group 2 (2 minor and 2 major). We have found significant differences with respect to the mean time (p < 0.01), number of controls (p < 0.01) and incidence of hemorrhages (p = 0.017) between groups 1 and 2. One thromboembolic episode was registered in each group: in group 1 a deep venous thrombosis and in group 2 a stroke.

CONCLUSION

The initial daily doses of acenocoumarin of 2 mg is as effective as the 4 mg one in the prevention of thromboembolic episodes, with a significant reduction in the number of haemorrhages observed during the first month of treatment. However this produces a prolongation in the necessary mean time and more number of controls performed until the achievement of the desired level of anticoagulation.

Effects of low dose aspirin (50 mg/day), low dose aspirin plus dipyridamole, and oral anticoagulant agents after internal mammary artery bypass grafting: patency and clinical outcome at 1 year. CABADAS Research Group of the Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands. Prevention of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Occlusion by Aspirin, Dipyridamole and Acenocoumarol/Phenprocoumon Study

OBJECTIVES

This study was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of aspirin, aspirin plus dipyridamole, and oral anticoagulant agents in the prevention of internal mammary artery graft occlusion.

BACKGROUND

Antithrombotic drugs increase vein graft patency after coronary artery bypass surgery. Their benefit after internal mammary artery grafting has not been established.

METHODS

Angiographic internal mammary artery graft patency at 1 year was assessed in 494 patients who received both internal mammary artery and vein grafts. These patients were a subgroup of a prospective, randomized vein graft patency study in 948 patients assigned to treatment with aspirin, aspirin plus dipyridamole, or oral anticoagulant agents. The design was double-blind for both aspirin groups and open for oral anticoagulant treatment. Dipyridamole (5 mg/kg body weight per 24 h intravenously, followed by 200 mg twice daily) and oral anticoagulant agents (prothrombin time target range 2.8 to 4.8 international normalized ratio) were started before operation, and low dose aspirin (50 mg/day) after operation. Clinical outcome was assessed by the incidence of myocardial infarction, thrombosis, major bleeding or death.

RESULTS

Occlusion rates of distal anastomoses were 4.6% in the aspirin plus dipyridamole group and 6.8% in the oral anticoagulant group versus 5.3% in the aspirin group (p = NS). Overall clinical event rates were 23.3% and 13.3% in the aspirin plus dipyridamole group and the aspirin group, respectively (relative risk 1.75, 95% confidence interval 1.09 to 2.81, p = 0.025), and 17.1% in the oral anticoagulant group.

CONCLUSIONS

Internal mammary artery graft patency at 1 year is not improved by aspirin plus dipyridamole or oral anticoagulant agents over that obtained with low dose aspirin alone. However, there is evidence that the overall clinical event rate increases if dipyridamole is added to aspirin.

Assessment of therapeutic quality control in a long-term anticoagulant trial in post-myocardial infarction patients

Various methods have been described to evaluate efficacy of anticoagulant therapy using the international normalized ratio (INR). We compared the following approaches: (1) total INR's or the most recent measurement; (2) percent time within therapeutic range, with INR changing directly or halfway between visits; and (3) total observation time assuming INR changing linearly. The study population comprised 1700 post myocardial infarction patients. Treatment comprised 3725 patient-years. There were 61,471 INR assessments with target therapeutic level of 2.8-4.8. Acenocoumarol as well as phenprocoumon were employed. Therapeutic achievement in the first months of treatment was low: less than 60% of INR's were in range. Treatment stabilized after 6 months. Patients on acenocoumarol were within range 70% of the time compared to 80% for phenprocoumon. Method 3 is preferred because it incorporates time and is capable of calculating incidence rates at different INR levels. Our findings call for an urgent improvement of standard of anticoagulant control in the first months following commencement of treatment.

[Checking oral anticoagulation in capillary blood]

PURPOSE

To check out the reproducibility and costs of prothrombin time (PT) determination as a control of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) in plasma and capillary blood.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study was carried out in two phases: along two years, 1,700 patients with OAT were controlled, 700 of them in the hospital outpatient clinic. In 149 patients INR was simultaneously determined in both capillary and venous blood. The 700 patients receiving acenocoumarin who had been controlled in 1991 according to the conventional plasma-sample fashion, were controlled in the second year (i.e., 1992) by means of capillary blood testing, a comparison of the costs of each method and the need for anticoagulant drugs being undertaken. Venous blood PT was assessed with reagent thromboplastin (Tromborel S) in an Electra-1000 (MLA) system. An automated Trombotrack system was used for the capillary blood tests using Thrombotest as current procedure. The results were expressed as INR in both methods. The statistical evaluation of the results was carried out by means of Student's t, variance analysis, and correlation study.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in the anticoagulation intervals attained from venous or capillary blood samples. No significant differences were seen in 87 patients on whom the test was repeated in two samples drawn from a single capillary puncture. The weekly OAT doses of 30 patients along six months were analysed. The need for anticoagulant drugs was similar (17.4 vs 17.2 mg/patient/week). The mean INR in 1991 was 2.82 and the mean drug-need was 15.24 mg/week, whereas in 1992 the mean INR was 2.86 and the need for anticoagulant was 15.49 mg/week. The costs of the conventional method were 103.6 Pta, this being 70 Pta for capillary blood, which means a 32% savings.

CONCLUSIONS

OAT control by means of PT performed on capillary blood must be considered a substitutive method for the venous blood assay due to its efficacy, simplicity and lower costs.

Pharmacokinetic analysis of a new acenocoumarol tablet formulation during a bioequivalence study

The pharmacokinetics of a new tablet formulation of acenocoumarol racemate, an oral anticoagulant agent, has been investigated in 8 normal healthy subjects. The drug was given as a single oral dose of 12 mg. 12 blood samples were collected after administration Plasma acenocoumarol concentrations were determined by a sensitive HPLC method. Areas under the plasma level-time curves for each subject were evaluated by means of the trapezoidal rule. The peak plasma concentration of 244.19-644.23 micrograms/l was reached 1-4 h after drug administration. The terminal phase half-life was 6.29-14.22 h and a systemic clearance was 1.86-5.62 l/h. The new table formulation of acenocoumarol seems to be bioequivalent when compared to the one used so far. For the prediction of systemic availability and estimation of the first-pass metabolism, from plasma level data, a hepatic blood flow rate limited model were used. The systemic availability was 94.22-98.01% and the elimination of the drug on its first-pass through the liver was 1.99-5.78%.

Intracardiac thrombi after orthotopic heart transplantation: clinical significance and etiologic factors

The frequency and clinical significance of intracardiac thrombi after orthotopic heart transplantation are still not fully understood. The aim of this article is to present five patients with heart transplants with intracardiac thrombi and to subject the possible cause, methods of diagnosis, and treatment of this phenomenon to scrutiny. The frequency of intracardiac thrombi may well be higher than anticipated, with emboli occurring only in a small proportion of cases. Hematologic, anatomic, and hemodynamic factors seem to have a bearing on thrombogenesis. Further multicenter studies are required to gain a better understanding of this disorder.

A comparative study on the quality of oral anticoagulant therapy (warfarin versus acenocoumarol)

In our Center for the Surveillance of Anticoagulant Treatment, most of the 1700 patients followed-up are traditionally treated with acenocoumarol, while warfarin is administered nowadays to an increasing proportion of patients. To assess if the difference in the pharmacokinetics of these two drugs may determine a different laboratory quality of treatment, a retrospective study was performed on the computerized files of all 142 patients on treatment with warfarin for more than 100 days and on a control group of 142 patients treated with acenocoumarol, matched for age, sex, disease state and duration of oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). The study considered 7071 assays for a total of 432 patient-years of treatment. The overall quality of treatment was significantly better in patients treated with warfarin (72% of controls within the therapeutic range versus 67% on acenocoumarol, p < 0.001). Also the individual quality of therapy, which was assessed as the percentage of patients with 75% or more assays in range, was in favour of warfarin (50.7% vs 34.5%, p < 0.05). Warfarin therapy was more stable and fewer assays were required for treatment monitoring. Confounding factors possibly influencing the treatment stability, such as interfering drugs, diagnostic or therapeutical procedures requiring withdrawal of anticoagulation, were evaluated and no significant difference between the two groups was found. The difference in the laboratory quality of OAT was marked in patients treated for prevention of arterial thromboembolism, while it was negligible in patients with venous thromboembolic disease, whose mean duration of OAT was considerably shorter. Since there is no evidence that acenocoumarol is more efficacious or safer than warfarin, the latter seems to be preferable for patients who are candidate to very prolonged OAT.

[The conservative therapy of atherosclerotic lesions of the superficial femoral artery. The indications and results]

In ten years, 127 patients presenting occlusion of the femoro-popliteal tract at Fontaine II stage were studied. Only patients with occlusion situated between the origin of the profunda femoris artery and supreme genu artery were included in this study. The best results were obtained with conservative treatment: 76 cases (59.8%) presented clinical improvement. In 22 cases (17.3%) the conservative treatment did not lead to any improvement. Among this group surgical treatment was necessary only in 8 cases (6.3%). We conclude that conservative treatment (exercise and indobufen 400 mg/die) is indicated in this type of occlusion of femoropopliteal tract at Fontaine II stage. The walk distance is better than doppler analysis in determining the results of conservative treatment. There were no cases of acute thrombosis. Every therapeutic choice must be evaluated on angiographic findings, especially regarding collateral circles.

Management of the anticoagulated patient for ophthalmic surgery

The outcome of 50 surgical procedures in 41 patients who were anticoagulated at the time of surgery were reviewed to determine whether anticoagulation was associated with an increase in ophthalmic morbidity. Twenty-seven patients were receiving warfarin and 14 patients nicoumalone. The International Normalised Ratio (INR) was determined immediately prior to surgery and ranged from 1.1 to 4.9. Thirty-nine operations were performed under local anaesthetic and 11 under general anaesthetic. Thirty-three patients had extracapsular cataract extractions with posterior chamber lens implantation. No major haemorrhagic complications were associated with the local anaesthetic or the surgical procedure. Patients on anticoagulation therapy are at risk of life-threatening complications if their anticoagulation is stopped or reduced. This study demonstrates that most ophthalmic surgical procedures can be safely performed whilst the patient is therapeutically anticoagulated.

Prevention of one-year vein-graft occlusion after aortocoronary-bypass surgery: a comparison of low-dose aspirin, low-dose aspirin plus dipyridamole, and oral anticoagulants. The CABADAS Research Group of the Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands

Aspirin, alone or in combination with dipyridamole, is known to prevent occlusion of aortocoronary vein grafts. The benefit of dipyridamole in addition to aspirin remains controversial, and the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulants for prevention of vein-graft occlusion have not been established. We assessed one-year angiographic vein-graft patency after aortocoronary-bypass surgery in 948 patients assigned to receive aspirin, aspirin plus dipyridamole, or oral anticoagulants in a prospective, randomised trial. The design was double-blind and placebo-controlled for the aspirin groups, but open for oral anticoagulant treatment. Dipyridamole (5 mg/kg per 24 h intravenously for 28 h, followed by 200 mg twice daily) and oral anticoagulants (desired prothrombin time range 2.8-4.8 international normalised ratio) were started before surgery, and aspirin (50 mg per day) was started after surgery. Clinical outcome was assessed by the incidence of myocardial infarction, thrombosis, major bleeding, or death. Occlusion rate of distal anastomoses was 11% in the aspirin plus dipyridamole group versus 15% in the aspirin group (relative risk 0.76, 95% CI 0.54-1.05) and 13% in the oral anticoagulants group. Clinical events occurred in 20.3% of patients receiving aspirin plus dipyridamole compared with 13.9% of the aspirin group (relative risk 1.46, 95% CI 1.02-2.08) and 16.9% of the oral anticoagulants group. Our data provide no convincing evidence that addition of dipyridamole to 50 mg aspirin per day improves aortocoronary vein-graft patency. Moreover, there is evidence that the combination increases the overall clinical-event rate. Compared with aspirin, oral anticoagulants provided no benefit.

Platelet function in patients with chronic coronary heart disease on long-term anticoagulant therapy: effect of anticoagulant stopping

Plasma beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG), platelet procoagulant activity (PPA) and malondialdehyde were evaluated in a control group and in 59 patients with chronic coronary heart disease (CHD) undergoing long-term anticoagulant therapy (ACT) with acenocoumarol, and within 2 months after its termination. The patients were clinically stabilized after more than 1 year of an acute myocardial infarction. An increase in beta TG and PPA was found in the patients, both with or without ACT, when compared to the control group. In addition, PPA was found to be higher in older and hypercholesterolemic patients on ACT. After ACT suppression, PPA activity increased significantly, particularly in younger and normocholesterolemic patients. The results of the present study suggest that CHD patients on ACT have some platelet hyperactivity and that the termination of ACT induces an increase in platelet function, particularly in PPA.

Experience with moderate intensity anticoagulation and aspirin after mechanical valve replacement. A retrospective, non-randomized study

A selected group of patients who underwent valve replacement were analyzed to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of combined treatment with moderate intensity anticoagulation plus aspirin. One hundred ninety-six patients who received a total of 204 mechanical valve prostheses between 1985 and 1991 were selected according to rigid criteria. The prostheses included 124 valves of caged ball design, 62 St. Jude valves and 18 others. The follow up of the whole population was 581.8 patient years, with an average of 2.97 patient years, and was complete by the definition criteria. All patients received moderate intensity anticoagulation with acenocoumarol (target International Normalized Ratio 2.5 to 3.5) and daily aspirin (100 mg or 325 mg). The incidence of thromboembolic events for the whole group was 3.26% per patient year, but only 1.6% in patients "compliant" with treatment. Preoperative embolism and non-compliance with treatment had a strong correlation with postoperative thromboembolism. The INR values had a strong correlation with both thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. The incidence of serious hemorrhagic events was 4.12% patient years although only two cases (0.34%/pty) were fatal (cerebral hemorrhages). There was no difference in hemorrhagic incidence between patients receiving either 325 mg or 100 mg daily. A low incidence of thromboembolic complications was attained with the use of combined antithrombotic and antiplatelet therapy, even in the first generation caged ball type prostheses. However, the combination of moderate intensity anticoagulation with either 325 mg or 100 mg aspirin was associated with a risk of bleeding similar to high intensity anticoagulation alone. The risk of bleeding appeared to be greater in the presence of gastric pathology, and the combination of anticoagulants and aspirin should be avoided in patients with these conditions.

Clinical implications of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in mitral valve disease

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors related to the presence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in mitral valve disease, and to ascertain whether it is a predictor of thromboembolism. One hundred and one patients (47 men, 54 women) with a mean age of 57.04 +/- 10.6 years who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were included in the study. Forty-five (44.5%) had isolated or predominant mitral valve stenosis, 12 (11.9%) predominant mitral insufficiency and 44 (43.6%) had had previous mitral valve replacement. Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was detected by transesophageal echocardiography in 58 patients, while the transthoracic approach detected it in only 15 (14.9%) (P < 0.0001). An atrial thrombus was found in six cases, with a history of recent systemic embolism in three of them. There was no thrombus in the left atria of a further nine patients, despite definitive histories of recent systemic embolism. The finding of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast was related to the presence of atrial fibrillation or enlarged left atrium, the severity of mitral stenosis and the absence of significant mitral insufficiency. Anticoagulant therapy was not significantly associated with spontaneous left atrial echo contrast, but a stepwise linear regression analysis showed that its presence was the only independent predictor of thromboembolism (p < 0.0001). We conclude that left atrial spontaneous echo contrast in mitral valve disease can be discovered mainly by transesophageal echocardiography, and is correlated with factors which are associated with low left atrial blood flow velocity such as atrial fibrillation, enlarged left atrium, mitral stenosis of increased severity and the absence of significant mitral insufficiency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Problems of oral anticoagulation in an adult with homozygous protein C deficiency and late onset of thrombosis

We describe a 57-year-old woman with homozygous protein C deficiency and mild thrombotic manifestations consisting of three spontaneous distal deep vein thromboses occurring after the age of 45. Previous surgery and pregnancies had been uneventful. Low but detectable protein C antigen and activity levels (both 20%) were discovered on the occasion of skin necrosis induced by oral anticoagulation. This therapy was interrupted because of skin necrosis and several episodes of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at the initiation of treatment despite a cautious protocol. No recurrent thromboembolic event has occurred in our patient using prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparin for 24 months. New therapeutic approaches might be the administration of low molecular weight heparin or oral anticoagulation associated with protein C replacement in the induction period. This case reflects the variability of expression of protein C deficiency as well as the potential hazards of antivitamin K anticoagulation in this disorder.

[Management of chronic venous insufficiency with the combination of coumarin (Syncoumar) and oral pentosan polysulfate (PPS, SP 54) (preliminary report)]

Fibrinolysis of 19 patients who developed CVI after deep vein thrombosis was examined. Mean age of patients at the first thrombosis was 31.8 years. For testing fibrinolysis fibrinogen, plasminogen, AP, ECLT, with venous occlusion were determined. In 10 patients t-PA and PAI-1 activities were also measured and plethysmography was carried out. For screening blood coagulation abnormalities of TCT count, PT, APTT, TT, AT III, protein C were tested. The common abnormality was the decreased fibrinolysis. Patients had been on coumarin for 6.14 years before entering the study. Under coumarin treatment 6 patients had relapsed DVT, 4 had crural ulcer and CVI deteriorated in 8 patients. Therefore we added fibrinolysis increasing PPS to coumarin. PPS dose was individually determined by PPS loading test (150-500 mg). Mean observation time with the combined treatment was 2.92 years. Clinical check up and fibrinolysis test were carried out every 6 months. Clinical improvement occurred in 13 patients, (decrease of swelling, pain etc). Two out of 4 patients with stasis ulcer experienced complete healing; in 1 the ulcer territory diminished in size. Maximum venous outflow improved in 7 patients, 3 patients were non-responders. We observed an increase of fibrinolysis in 10 patients. Venous occlusion enhanced the fibrinolysis increasing effect of PPS. The activity reached its maximum by the first control. The fibrinolysis increase and the clinical improvement do not always run parallel, therefore other effects of PPS as the reason for being beneficial in CVI must be considered (antiinflammatory, ect.). Combination of coumarin and PPS seems to be an effective therapy in CVI with decreased fibrinolysis.