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Coagulation self-monitoring

Understanding coagulation monitoring

Patient talking to doctor
Coagulation self-monitoring

The importance of knowing your INR and keeping your level in check.

INR should be in a certain range. If it's too low, a recurrence of a blood clot can occur. If it's too high, it can lead to an elevated risk of bleeding.

- Dr. Bill Bartle, pharmacist

Anticoagulation treatment

 

Why are anticoagulants prescribed?

 

The human body has a complex mechanism called coagulation that causes blood to clot if a wound occurs. Under normal circumstances this is desirable; it allows the body to heal itself. Yet in some clinical conditions, coagulation can cause unwanted blood clots that may lead to complications and can be life threatening.

Oral anticoagulants, such as warfarin and phenprocoumon, are used to prevent blood clots and are often referred to as "blood thinners".

 

Anticoagulants are commonly prescribed for the following conditions:1-3

  • Atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
  • Mechanical heart valves
  • Stroke
  • Venous thromboembolism
  • Thrombophilia (tendency to cause blood clots)
  • Heart attack 

Coagulation self-monitoring

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What are INR values and why are they important?

Illustration - therapeutic range

Monitoring your therapy 

 

When prescribed anticoagulation therapy, such as the use of a vitamin K antagonist (VKA), taking the correct dose is crucial for effective treatment. The correct dose is established by measuring how long it takes your blood to clot. This is called the International Normalized Ratio (INR).4

 

Understanding INR values

 

An INR of 1 is normal in healthy individuals who are not taking anticoagulants5

An INR of 2 means that your blood takes twice as long to clot as normal5

The therapeutic INR range for patients on anticogulation therapy can vary depending on the indication VKAs are prescribed for. However, the target range is commonly between 2.0-3.05-7

If the INR is too low, there is an increased risk of blood clots that can lead to stroke8,9

If the INR is too high, there is an increased risk of bleeding8

Keeping your INR in range is key. Know your value.

 

Regular INR monitoring is important to help determine if your dose needs to be adjusted. Your doctor will provide you with a target INR range. For people taking VKAs, which include warfarin, the target INR typically ranges from 2 to 3, but may be different depending on the patient and his or her condition.5-7

Vitamin K antagonisits at a glance

How it's administered 

Oral tablet

Available vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) 

Warfarin, phenprocoumon and acenocoumarol

Considerations

  • VKAs belong to the group of most frequently used drugs worldwide10
  • Must be regularly monitored10
  • May be prescribed for a period of weeks, months or years
Patient talking to doctor

Abbreviations

INR: International Normalized Ratio

 

References

  1. Ryan et al. (2008). J Clin Pharm Ther 33, 581-590
  2. Stevens et al. (2016). J Thromb Thombolysis 41, 154-164
  3. Lip et al (2002). BMJ 325, 1022-1025
  4. Wardrop amd Keeling. (2008). Br J Haem 141, 757–763
  5. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). (2016). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279434/#_NBK279434_pubdet_ [Accessed January 2021]
  6. Shikdar and Bhattacharya. (2018). Book available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507707/#_NBK507707_pubdet_ [Accessed January 2021]
  7. Tidman et al. (2015). Aust Precr 38, 44-48
  8. American Heart Association. Available from: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention--treatment-of-arrhythmia/a-patients-guide-to-taking-warfarin [Accessed January 2021]
  9. North American Thrombosis Forum. Available from: https://natfonline.org/2017/07/guide-inr-levels/ [Accessed January 2021]
  10. Ufer. (2005). Clin Pharmacokinet 44, 1227-1246

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