UPDATE ON ANTICOAGULANTS

More and more heparins are available to the prescriber and low molecular weight heparins have brought about a modification of prescribing habits. Some complications linked to the use of heparins remain insufficiently known: thrombocytopenia and acute pulmonary hypertension during neutralization for example. Treatment monitoring must be clearly codified to increase effectiveness and reduce the number of accidents thus achieving a better risk/benefit ratio for such treatment. Some of the Vitamin K antagonists have specific properties which should be known, particularly relating to their half-life. Monitoring is important, it is provided by INR and adapted to the indications. The world of anticoagulants is in flux; the movement must be followed as it may well accelerate with the arrival of new antithrombotic drugs.