Patient selection for anticoagulant therapy in coronary heart disease.
Short-term anticoagulant therapy given after an acute myocardial infarction is directed toward preventing thromboembolism and is fairly safe. Long-term anticoagulant therapy prevents coronary thrombosis in selected patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), but carries an appreciable risk of hemorrhage. A decision for or against short-term therapy should be based on an assessment of the immediate risk of thromboembolism. Similarly, the risk of coronary thrombosis should be the major determinant in a decision for or against long-term anticoagulation. The most important information emerging from the clinical trials of long-term anticoagulant therapy in CHD concerns the significant benefit observed among patients with advanced disease.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D002140:California; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors
D000925:Anticoagulants