Original Paper

Prospective Assessment of a Nomogram for the Initiation of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy for Outpatient Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism
M.J. Kovacs^a, D.A. Anderson^b, P.S. Wells<sup>c

a</sup>Departments of Medicine,
^aLondon Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario,
^bQueen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia,
^cOttawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Address of Corresponding Author

Pathophysiol Haemos Thromb 2002;32:131-133 (DOI: 10.1159/000065215)

  Key Words

• Warfarin
• Nomogram
• Venous thromboembolism

  Abstract

Venous thromboembolism is a common medical problem. Recently, the emphasis has been on a switch to outpatient low molecular weight heparin therapy. Previous warfarin nomograms have been developed only for inpatients. We prospectively assessed a warfarin initiation nomogram in 105 consecutive outpatients; the nomogram requires International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing on only days 3, 5, and 8. Eighty-three percent had a therapeutic INR by day 5 and 98% by day 8. There were no major bleeds and only 6 instances of INR >4.5. This outpatient warfarin nomogram appears to be safe and efficacious in obtaining timely therapeutic levels of warfarin and deserves further study.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Michael J. Kovacs
Room 2760, Phase 1, London Health Sciences Centre
800 Commissioners Road East
London, Ontario N6A 4G5 (Canada)
Tel. +1 519 685 8475, Fax +1 519 685 8477, E-Mail michael.kovacs@lhsc.on.ca

  Article Information

Received: Received: October 10, 2001
Accepted in revised form: June 20, 2002
Number of Print Pages : 3
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 10