title: Low-intensity oral anticoagulant plus low-dose aspirin during the first six months versus standard-intensity oral anticoagulant therapy after mechanical heart valve replacement: a pilot study of low-intensity warfarin and aspirin in cardiac prostheses (LIWACAP).
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-intensity warfarin treatment plus aspirin during the first 6 months after surgery in patients undergoing heart valve substitution with mechanical prostheses. Vitamin K antagonists (VKA) are able to reduce but not eliminate thrombosis and systemic embolism in patients with mechanical heart valves. The intensity of treatment and additional use of aspirin in these patients is still controversial. Consecutive patients undergoing aortic or mitral valve replacement (or a combination of the two) with mechanical prostheses were invited to participate in the study. After stratifying for site of prosthesis, patients were randomized to receive low intensity VKA treatment (target INR 2.5) plus aspirin (100 mg/day) for the first six months (Group A) or standard-intensity (INR target 3.7) VKA treatment (Group B). Mean follow-up was 1.5 years. Principal outcome events were systemic embolism, major bleeding, and vascular death. A total of 94 patients in Group A and 104 in Group B were randomized and followed up for 144 and 163 patient years, respectively. There were 5 (5%) events in Group A (4 major bleeding events and 1 vascular death) and 4 (4%) in group B (2 major bleeding events and 2 ischemic stroke). All the events except 1 occurred within the first 6 months after surgery. Cumulative incidence of primary outcome events was 5.8% (95% CI 0.9 to 10.7) in Group A and 4.3% (95% CI 0.2 to 8.4) in Group B (p=0.6). Low-intensity treatment plus aspirin during the first six months after surgery appears to be as effective and safe as moderate-high-intensity anticoagulation.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Cardiology, Thrombosis Centre, University of Padova, Italy. vittorio.pengo@unipd.it
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pengo
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palareti
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cucchini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molinatti
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Bono
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baudo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghirarduzzi
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pegoraro
authors.forename: Sabino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliceto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001021:Aortic Valve; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006470:Hemorrhage; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D001241:Aspirin