BMJ  2005;331 (5 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7524.0-b

Oral anticoagulation can safely be self managed

Appropriately trained, patients taking oral anticoagulants long term can safely and effectively use a point of care device to manage their own anticoagulation. In a multicentre open randomised trial of more than 600 patients taking warfarin, Fitzmaurice and colleagues (p 1057) found that the percentage of time spent within the therapeutic range and the incidence of adverse events were similar in patients who self managed and those who received routine care provided by anticoagulation clinics. The intervention also improved management of patients with initially poor control.

Credit: ANDREW SYRED/SPL

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Relevant Article

Self management of oral anticoagulation: randomised trial

D A Fitzmaurice, E T Murray, D McCahon, R Holder, J P Raftery, S Hussain, H Sandhar, and F D R Hobbs
BMJ 2005 331: 1057. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]