title: Flexible induction dose regimen for warfarin and prediction of maintenance dose.
abstract: Fifty patients with venous thromboembolic disease being treated by heparin infusion received a three day warfarin induction regimen tailored according to the prothrombin time (British comparative ratio) measured on days 2 and 3. A prediction of the final maintenance dose of warfarin was made on the basis of a prothrombin time measured on day 4. All patients were safely anticoagulated by day 6, and the prediction was accurate to within 1 mg in 46 patients. Predicted and actual maintenance doses were closely related (r = 0.867; n = 50; p less than 0.001). This scheme should prove helpful in the control of anticoagulation, particularly in patients likely to be sensitive to warfarin, and should shorten hospital stay.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin