Practical Suggestions for an Optimal Management of Vitamin K Antagonists: Italian Federation of Centers for the Diagnosis of Thrombotic Disorders and the Surveillance of the Antithrombotic Therapies (FCSA) Position Paper

Thromb Haemost. 2024 Aug;124(8):803-809. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1782688. Epub 2024 Apr 16.

Abstract

In the era of direct oral anticoagulants, vitamin K antagonists retain a clinically relevant role in thrombotic disorders. In Italy, approximately 20% of the patients on anticoagulant therapies receives a VKA, in most cases warfarin. The optimal management of this drug is challenging and cannot disregard its intricate and unpredictable pharmacokinetic properties and patient's thrombotic and bleeding risk. Several clinical issues encountered during warfarin treatment are still unanswered and are tentatively addressed by physicians. In this regard, the Italian Federation of Centers for the diagnosis of thrombotic disorders and the Surveillance of the Antithrombotic therapies (FCSA) provides some experience-based good clinical practice's suggestions on the following topics: (1) how to start the anticoagulant treatment with warfarin and warfarin induction regimen; (2) how to manage a subtherapeutic INR value; (3) how to manage a supratherapeutic INR value in asymptomatic patients; and (4) how to manage the association of warfarin with interfering drugs.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants* / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants* / therapeutic use
  • Blood Coagulation / drug effects
  • Drug Interactions
  • Drug Monitoring / methods
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / adverse effects
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Hemorrhage* / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • International Normalized Ratio*
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Thrombosis* / blood
  • Thrombosis* / diagnosis
  • Thrombosis* / drug therapy
  • Thrombosis* / prevention & control
  • Vitamin K* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Warfarin* / adverse effects
  • Warfarin* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamin K
  • Warfarin
  • Anticoagulants
  • Fibrinolytic Agents