Impact of genetic and clinical factors on dose requirements and quality of anticoagulation therapy in Polish patients receiving acenocoumarol: dosing calculation algorithm.

Background: Despite the recent emergence of new oral anticoagulants, vitamin K antagonists remain the primary therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation and the only therapy licensed for use in patients with artificial heart valves.

Objective: The aim of this study was (a) to assess the impact of clinical and genetic factors on acenocoumarol (AC) dose requirements and the percentage of time in therapeutic range (%TTR) and (b) to develop pharmacogenetic-guided AC dose calculation algorithm.

Materials And Methods: We included 235 outpatients of the Institute of Cardiology (Warsaw), mean age 69.

Patient education and quality of home-based rehabilitation in patients older than 60 years after acute myocardial infarction.

Purpose: Because only one-third of eligible patients participate in formal cardiac rehabilitation, home-based programs constitute a suitable alternative. We examined effectiveness of a minimal educational intervention on patient fitness and activity levels through the use of simple motivational tools including verbal encouragement and the provision of a booklet containing exercise guidelines and exercise diary.

Methods: We enrolled 186 patients (age, 60 – 78 years; mean age, 69 years; 140 men) who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of Warsaw Institute of Cardiology in 2007-2009 after acute myocardial infarction.

[Thromboembolic and haemorrhagic complications in patients treated with anticoagulants after artificial heart valve replacement. Risk factors dependent on quality of anticoagulant treatment].

Unlabelled: Thromboembolic (TE) and hemorrhagic (H) complications are the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients treated with oral anticoagulants (OA) after implantation of artificial valvular prostheses. The risk of complications is dependent on recommended target INR ranges and quality of anticoagulation treatment. We studied 358 patients with a mean age 56.

[The frequency of risk factors of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications in patients treated with oral anticoagulants after heart valve replacement].

Unlabelled: Thromboembolic (TE) and hemorrhagic (H) complications are the most significant problems in patients treated with oral anticoagulants (OA) after implantation of artificial valvular prostheses of heart. This problem was discussed in worlds scientific literature, but was not comprehensive investigated in Polish population of patients. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of TE and H complications and their influence on mortality and morbidity and to determine the risk factors related to clinical and hemodynamical patients status.

[Skeletal myopathy associated with concomitant use of statin and cyclosporin in a heart transplant patient - case report].

62-year-old woman after heart transplantation due to congestive heart failure of ischemic origin with history of hyperlipidemia was treated with cyclosporin and statin. Concomitant use of these agents caused clinical and biochemical symptoms of skeletal myopathy. After statin withdrawal the symptoms of myopathy disappeared.