Causes of perioperative myocardial infarction: their identification and prevention

Despite major technical advances in coronary bypass surgery and myocardial preservation, perioperative infarction remains a serious problem. The authors review the pathogenesis of the two different types of myocardial injury, occlusion necrosis and reperfusion necrosis. These two entities can be distinguished clinically by radioisotope scanning. Experimental studies have demonstrated that reperfusion necrosis can be prevented pharmacologically. Since the majority of perioperative infarcts are probably due to reperfusion, the importance of distinguishing between these two entities is evident.

Effect of naproxen on the kinetics of elimination and anticoagulant activity of a single dose or warfarin

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug naproxen on the elimination kinetics and anticoagulant activity of warfarin. Ten healthy men received one oral dose of 50 mg racemic warfarin alone and with naproxen, 375 mg twice daily for 17 days beginning 10 days before warfarin. Naproxen administration caused a small but statistically significant increase in the free fraction of warfarin in serum but had no significant effect on the total clearance, volume of distribution, half-life, and anticoagulant activity of warfarin. Warfarin, on the other hand, apparently enhances the serum protein binding of haproxen. There was substantial intersubject variation but very little intrasubject variation in the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. The intersubject variation of the anticoagulant effect was not related to the elimination kinetics of warfarin.

Effect of naproxen on the steady-state serum concentration and anticoagulant activity of warfarin

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen interacts with warfarin during prolonged administration of both drugs. Healthy adults received oral doses of warfarin daily for 26 days. Naproxen, 375 mg twice daily, was given from the eleventh through the twentieth days. Naproxen administration had no apparent effect on the steady-state concentrations of free and total (free and protein-bound) warfarin in serum, despite a small but statistically significant increase of the warfarin-free fraction in serum. There was no apparent difference between the prothrombin times (at a constant daily dose of warfarin) observed before, during, and after administration of naproxen.