title: Oral anticoagulation in paediatric patients: dose requirements and complications.
abstract: The lack of oral anticoagulant guidelines specific to paediatric practice has led to the adoption of adult regimens, often without scientific evidence of efficacy or safety. A two year prospective study of anticoagulant control was carried out in 45 children aged 9 months to 18 years, the majority of whom were receiving primary prophylactic anticoagulation. The main indication was congenital heart disease, either with (n = 8) or without (n = 34) mechanical valve prosthesis. During a follow up period of 602 patient months the average interval between visits was three weeks. Target international normalised ratios (INRs) were achieved on 62% and 39% of visits for children with low target INR (2.0-3.0) and high target INR (3.0-4.0) respectively. However warfarin dose was altered on only 22% of visits. Warfarin doses required to achieve a stable INR of 2.0-3.0 in 33 children were strongly correlated with weight [dose (mg/d) = 0.07 x weight (kg) + 0.54] but independently influenced by age. No thrombotic complications were recorded, and haemorrhagic events were infrequent (2.1% of visits) and, with one exception, minor. Safe outpatient oral anticoagulation is feasible in children, whose warfarin requirements appear moderately predictable and whose control is no more erratic than that of adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Tait
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Ladusans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Metaal
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Will
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin