Inr Blood

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A new study shows that people who take the <a rel = "nofollow" onclick = commonly used "javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview ('/ outgoing / article_exit_link');" href = "http://www.scientistlive.com" > thin the blood </ a warfarin> may have larger amounts of bleeding in the brain and increased risk of death if they suffer a hemorrhagic stroke. The study is published in the September 30, 2008, print edition of Neurology ®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Warfarin is commonly prescribed to prevent blood clotting. Studies have shown that it helps prevent ischemic stroke in patients with an abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. However, if the drug makes the blood too thin, it can increase the risk of cerebral hemorrhage, a type of stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.
The study involved 258 people who had a cerebral hemorrhage, 51 were taking warfarin. Participants averaged 69 years old and lived in or near Cincinnati. The group underwent brain scans to confirm the type of stroke. The brain scans were used to measure the size of the formation of blood clots.
The study found that people who took warfarin and suffered a brain haemorrhage while their international normalized ratio (INR) was above three had about twice as much initial bleeding as those not taking warfarin . However, this effect was not observed in people whose blood is less likely to clot as determined by an INR of less than three. An INR test measures the ability of blood to clot.
"Warfarin is very effective in preventing ischemic strokes among people with atrial fibrillation and for most patients with this condition, it is the right choice," said study author Matthew L. Flaherty, MD, with University of Cincinnati and member of the American Academy of Neurology. "However, people who have bleeding in the brain while taking warfarin are at greater risk of dying than other people who suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Our study may help explain why. Fortunately, we did not enlarge <a =" rel = nofollow "onclick "javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview ('/ outgoing / article_exit_link');" href = "http://www.scientistlive.com"> blood clots </ a> among people with an INR of less than three. For most patients on warfarin, the INR target is between two and three. This shows the importance of good monitoring and adjustment of warfarin dose. People should talk to their doctor about the proper management of warfarin and learn the signs of stroke so they can get to an emergency room immediately if a stroke occurs. "