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Inhibition of Warfarin Anticoagulation Associated with Chelation Therapy
Author(s) -
Grebe Heidi Braun,
Gregory Philip J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.22.12.1067.33602
Subject(s) - chelation therapy , warfarin , medicine , chelation , anticoagulant therapy , atrial fibrillation , chemistry , thalassemia , organic chemistry
Chelation therapy originally was administered exclusively to patients with heavy metal poisoning. Now some physicians are administering this therapy for numerous conditions, most commonly coronary heart disease. A 64–year‐old man experienced impaired warfarin anticoagulation after undergoing chelation therapy. His international normalized ratio (INR) fell from 2.6 the day before to 1.6 the day after therapy was administered. Whether chelation therapy decreases the effectiveness of warfarin anticoagulation is uncertain. However, because of this potential interaction, clinicians should consider increased INR monitoring in patients undergoing chelation therapy.