Thrombosis research
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Thrombosis research · Jul 2009
Comparative StudyComparison and evaluation of a Point-of-care device (CoaguChek XS) to Owren-type prothrombin time assay for monitoring of oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin.
The standardized test used for evaluating the effect of warfarin is the prothrombin time (PT) which is measured and expressed in international normalized ratio (INR). Regular control of treatment intensity is required since inappropriate dosage increases the risk for complications. Portable point-of-care analytical instruments for measurement of capillary whole blood PT have been available for the last decades. The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate INR values obtained by the point-of-care device CoaguChek XS, to Owren PT in a hospital setting. ⋯ The CoaguChek XS presents reproducible, highly comparable results with Owren PT at therapeutic levels of INR. The CoaguChek XS seems to produce better results than the earlier CoaguChek S, probably due to a new method of PT measurement where levels of fibrinogen and haematocrit do not affect the outcome.
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Thrombosis research · Jul 2009
Hypercoagulability after trauma: hemostatic changes and relationship to venous thromboembolism.
Major trauma induces a hypercoagulable state, which is frequently complicated by pathological thrombosis. However the sequential changes in coagulation markers and their relationship to clinical thrombosis have been poorly characterized. ⋯ Major trauma leads to significantly increased and persistent thrombin generation with disruption of its regulation. Coagulation markers do not appear to add independent predictive value in detecting VTE. Increasing age is the most important clinical predictor of VTE after trauma.