Warfarin and its mechanism of action

Warfarin belongs to a group of medicines - indirect anticoagulants. Anticoagulants prevent blood clotting and thrombus formation. Warfarin inhibits the formation of certain coagulation factors (restores vitamin K epoxide inactive in its active form) and promotes the formation of Anticoagulant Proteins in the liver.

After oral warfarin is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream from the gastrointestinal tract.

Indications for use

Warfarin is used for the treatment and prevention of thrombosis (blood clot - a blood clot that forms in a blood vessel) and embolism (occlusion of the vessel by foreign matter brought from the blood) blood vessel:

• in acute venous thrombosis Thrombosis - the cause of heart attack and stroke   and pulmonary embolism;
• at postoperative thrombosis;
• with repeated myocardial infarction;
• as an adjunct to surgical or medical (in clot dissolution) treating thrombosis;
• in certain types of irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation);
• embolism (blockage) of the pulmonary artery;
• with prosthetic heart valves and blood vessels;
• peripheral thrombosis, coronary (heart) arteries and the brain;
• for the secondary prevention of thromboembolism Thromboembolism: severe complications   after myocardial infarction.

Contraindications

• diseases and conditions with a high risk of bleeding;
• blood diseases;
• condition after suffering traumatic brain injuries and operations;
• Upcoming eye surgery;
• Surgery for extensive injuries;
• bleeding, occurred against a background of ulcerative lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary and respiratory systems;
• with petechiae in the brain;
• aneurysms (sharp expansion of large arteries);
• inflammatory diseases of the heart (pericarditis, endocarditis);
• with severe liver or kidney disease;
• in severe forms of hypertension.
• Pregnancy (warfarin easily crosses the placenta and can cause hemorrhagic disorders of fetus and abnormal development of bones).
• in alcoholism.

It was found that warfarin is excreted in breast milk in an inactive form and does not cause negative effects.

Possible consequences

• in the blood: bleeding, bruising, anemia;
• of the skin: skin irritation, rash, alopecia;
• from the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms , Abnormal liver function;
• on the part of the cardiovascular system: the sharp toes redness, feeling cold, chills, violation of sensitivity in certain areas of the body;
• the central nervous system: fatigue, drowsiness, irritability Irritability - you try to control my temper , Headache, dizziness, taste disturbances;
• an allergic reaction: hives, swelling, itching.

Could be an overdose of warfarin?

Since the effectiveness of treatment is determined by the appearance of minor bleeding (eg, bleeding gums), it is quite possible overdose. Against the background of overdose may appear significant bleeding - these conditions require immediate medical attention at a hospital. Take vifarin must be clearly in line with the appointment of a physician, or the possible complications. Therefore, for elderly patients, persons with mental disorders need special surveillance.

Warfarin should not be taken simultaneously with other anticoagulant drugs and contributing to reduce blood clotting, as well as some medications (the list must take into account in the appointment of a physician).

Warfarin - an effective drug that is manufactured by the Danish "Nycomed", which has a good reputation in the pharmaceutical market. But taking this drug can only be prescribed by a doctor, which takes into account the indications and contraindications for its use.

  Galina Romanenko

What is thrombosis

Thrombosis - a lifetime of blood clotting in the lumen of the blood vessel. Thrombosis leads to circulatory disorders in the tissues, causing diseases such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, thrombosis, and others, as well as contribute to the weighting of any disease.

In a healthy body processes blood clotting regulated by the nervous and endocrine systems in violation of this balance can occur and bleeding disorders with the formation of blood clots.

Causes

At the heart of thrombosis is damage to blood vessel walls, changes in the functional state of the vascular system and slowing blood flow.

Damage to the blood vessel wall may be a structural (as a result of trauma, poisoning or infection), or functional, arising, for example, due to stress How to beat stress? Create an oasis   (thrombus formation process starts catching adrenaline). The change of the functional state of the circulatory system can occur as a result of bleeding disorders under the influence of various factors. Spasm of the arteries and veins can cause impaired blood flow and blood stasis - it also contributes to increased thrombosis.

All these mechanisms of blood clots are most often the result of trauma, obesity, advanced age, stress, allergic and cardiovascular diseases and so on.

How is the blood clot

In the process of clot formation has several stages:

• The first stage - damage to the blood vessel wall, which leads to local activation of homeostasis (the body tries to repair the damage);
• the second stage - to the damaged portion of the vessel wall rush platelets;
• the third phase - the concentration on the damaged site of a large number of platelets;
• fourth step - the formation of a special enzyme thrombin which converts fibrinogen plasma protein into insoluble fibrin protein, in which filaments are retained blood cells (platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells), which leads to thrombus formation
• fifth stage - retraction (active contraction) of the thrombus, causing it becomes dense.

Coronary thrombosis

Coronary Thrombosis (supplying the heart muscle) vessels leads to the fact that in the muscle fibers of the myocardium metabolism changes Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting , Disrupted activity of enzyme systems. All this causes a profound change of heart muscle cells, muscle section with impaired circulation stop working and die. This condition is called myocardial infarction. This is followed by a sharp pain, and cardiac abnormalities.

Cerebral thrombosis

Cerebral thrombosis is the cause of stroke Stroke - a serious brain injury   - The withering away of brain tissue. Most often develops after a stroke, emotional or physical exertion, alcohol, and manifested in the morning or at night. Signs of stroke is increasing gradually, appearing lesion of a part of the brain in the form of visual impairment, hearing loss, some types of movements and sensitivity.

Thrombophlebitis

Thrombophlebitis - an inflammation of the vein wall in combination with thrombosis. The first sign of thrombophlebitis - suddenly appeared sharp pain along the vein and fever. The skin around a vein becomes reddened and edematous, Vienna palpable as a thick strand painful.

Thrombophlebitis is a long, recurrent, difficult to treat disease and the source of detached clots that can move freely on the venous and arterial systems, clogging blood vessels and causing numerous complications.

Complications Thrombosis

Thrombosis is a serious complication of thromboembolism Thromboembolism: severe complications   - Separation of thrombus or its parts and their free movement in the bloodstream. Most often a blood clot separation occurs in the venous system, venous thrombosis of lower extremities.

Especially dangerous is pulmonary embolism - blockage of pulmonary arterial blood clot in the veins of the systemic circulation (systemic circulation collects the venous blood from the upper and lower limbs, abdomen, and so on). For such thrombosis is characterized by acute onset of shortness of breath, pain in the heart, and often almost instantaneous death of the patient.

Thrombosis - a dangerous disease, so people who have it moved, should be under constant medical supervision.

  Galina Romanenko