Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (Nov 2002)

Evaluation of the marker of hypercoagulability prothrombin fragment F 1+2 in patients with mechanical or biological heart valve prostheses

  • Claudia Natália Ferreira,
  • Lauro Mello Vieira,
  • Luci Maria Sant'Ana Dusse,
  • Carlos Faria Santos Amaral,
  • William Antônio de Magalhães Esteves,
  • Lúcia Maria Amorim Fenelon,
  • Maria das Graças Carvalho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0066-782X2002001400008
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 79, no. 5
pp. 505 – 509

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether patients with heart valve prostheses and similar International Normalized Ratios (INR) have the same level of protection against thromboembolic events, that is, whether the anticoagulation intensity is related to the intensity of hypercoagulability supression. METHODS: INR and plasma levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) were assessed in blood samples of 27 patients (7 with mechanical heart valves and 20 with biological heart valves) and 27 blood samples from healthy donors that were not taking any medication. RESULTS: Increased levels of F1+2 were observed in blood samples of 5 patients with heart valve prostheses taking warfarin. These findings reinforce the idea that even though patients may have INRs, within the therapeutic spectrum, they are not free from new thromboembolic events. CONCLUSION: Determination of the hypercoagulability marker F1+2 might result in greater efficacy and safety for the use of oral anticoagulants, resulting in improved quality of life for patients.

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