Newsweek

[Georgia]

From 1/23/06 "Newsweek"

Thick and thin

If you're one of the 4 million Americans who take blood thinners, the news that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a hemorrhagic stroke shortly after being put on anticoagulants may have you worried about your own risk of internal bleeding. In fact, about 5 percent of those on Coumadin (warfarin), the most commonly prescribed blood thinner, develop serious bleeding problems. "That's a very significant risk," says Dr. Andrew Schafer, president-elect of the American Society of Hematology. To minimize it, check your blood pressure regularly - high blood pressure "is the most important cause of devastating bleeding strokes," says Columbia University neurologist Dr. Stephan Mayer. Seek medical care if you experience unusual headaches or slurred speech - possible signs of bleeding into the brain (for more info, type "warfarin" into the search engine at medlineplus.gov). Finally, take heart: in the next few years, the FDA is expected to approve a new class of oral anticoagulants that are not only much safer than warfarin but more effective.

 

[PJmomrunner]

Finally, take heart: in the next few years, the FDA is expected to approve a new class of oral anticoagulants that are not only much safer than warfarin but more effective

My husband recently met a former valve salesman (who used to sell ATS valves and is about to undergo MVR himself and now sells ablation equipment) who told my husband that anticoagulation therapy was about to be revolutionized. My husband did not find out what he meant by that, perhaps he was referring to this new class of drugs.

 

[Karlynn]

Does it bug anyone else as much as me that warfarin (or Lovenox or Heparin) are continually refered to as "blood thinners"? It's just a little pet peave of mine.

PJmom- any chance your husband will run into this person again to see what he meant with his comment? That would be interesting.

 

[Georgia]

Karlynn, absolutely drives me nuts (ok - it's not a long drive, but still).

 

[Guest]

I think Newsweek tanked on this one
Most sources say 11 million on warfarin in the US
"Blood thinner"
Doing that on Medline Plus should get you about 12,000 abstracts of articles to look at - you won't need a sleeping pill if you set out to read them - they will average about 2 sheets of paper each -- stock up.
I check 2 or 3 times a week for new info on warfarin replacements. I'm guessing 2009 or 2010 for one to hit the market. I've been doing this since 2001 whe I started watching Exanta. I have never seen where any one was being tried for mechanical valves.
I think that tissue valves will revolutionize the market (by 2010) more than warfarin replacements.

 

[Ross]

I wish they wouldn't post %'s. Give the facts on the deal. You know how skewed that can be without knowing the details of the people who had significant bleeds.

 

[PJmomrunner]

PJmom- any chance your husband will run into this person again to see what he meant with his comment? That would be interesting

Probably not--it was a pretty random meeting.

 

[RCB]

Interesting!

Interesting!

I think Newsweek tanked on this one
Most sources say 11 million on warfarin in the US
"Blood thinner"
Doing that on Medline Plus should get you about 12,000 abstracts of articles to look at - you won't need a sleeping pill if you set out to read them - they will average about 2 sheets of paper each -- stock up.
I check 2 or 3 times a week for new info on warfarin replacements. I'm guessing 2009 or 2010 for one to hit the market. I've been doing this since 2001 whe I started watching Exanta. I have never seen where any one was being tried for mechanical valves.
I think that tissue valves will revolutionize the market (by 2010) more than warfarin replacements.

Hold on there Al! Don't just drop a bomb, then leave us hanging!

"I think that tissue valves will revolutionize the market (by 2010) more than warfarin replacements."

I would be very interested in what you know that you are not telling us.
For the market to "revolutionize(d)", a tissue valve would have to be past the research phase and be well in to development to have an inpact on the market in 4 years. As you know the pipeline from research to final approval is a long one, full of set backs. On-X and CEPM are good examples. On-X is going in to low INR trials in the US. If successful, aspirin would be next, I presume. If (and a big "if", it is)that is successful, ON-X would "revolutionize" the market! Come on Al, what is the inside track here?

 

[Guest]

I heard it from someone in the pharmaceutical industry who is below the executive level but high enough in the heirarchy to be "in the know" nationwide and maybe internationally. The comment was something like why would a company want to develop a replacement for warfarin when the valve companies are going to come out with new models that don't need anticoagulation at all. That is all I know except that I won't reveal the name of the person who said it.

 

[Karlynn]

And with the power that drug companies pull, we certainly don't want them doing anything to slow the developement of a valve that doesn't need ACT.

 

[catwoman]

Does it bug anyone else as much as me that warfarin (or Lovenox or Heparin) are continually refered to as "blood thinners"? It's just a little pet peave of mine.

In order to not appear to be repetitious, writers will occasionally use a synonym for a word used frequently in an article. My guess is this is the case -- anti-coagulant would make the article very tiresome to read.

Give Newsweek credit: "Anti-coagulant" was used several times, instead of only "blood thinner."

 

[Guest]

But they are not synonyms. I say it is misinformation to equate anticoagulant with blood thinner.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

From 1/23/06 "Newsweek"

Finally, take heart: in the next few years, the FDA is expected to approve a new class of oral anticoagulants that are not only much safer than warfarin but more effective.

That sounds like the HYPE that was floating around about EXANTA and we KNOW that 'ain't gonna happen' any time soon...

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Dustin]

I think that tissue valves will revolutionize the market (by 2010) more than warfarin replacements.

Perhaps bioengineering will eventually become the standard, yes, tissue valves that are actually alive such that calcification and other degradations do not take place. But 2010 is a little too soon I think. The Perimount MAGNA valve, for example, will produce useful statistics closer to 2015, the valve has just been released.

It's frustrating to some extent, because we could see a revolutionary valve being developed before 2010 but we need 10+ years of follow-up to conclude anything sensible.

 

[Guest]

Dustin,
I agree. The valves will be there much sooner that the statistics. No way around that.

 

[ccrawford]

Karlynn - Yes, the term "blood thinner" raises my BP, especially when coupled with a suggestion that it also gives you cold hands and feet. I don't know how many times I have offered a discussion of viscosity vs. anticoagulation, but I bet only a small percentage of people really understand. Oh well

 

[Granbonny]

I love my Rat Poison

I love my Rat Poison

Coming up 4 years on it (Warfarin).......Cheap drug (less than $20.00 month)........INR..always in range. (Home-test) No problems with bleeding or brusies. .....Cardio told me this week..See you in a year for an echo. Just tested an hour ago...2.9..after being on antibodics for a week for an UTI................Who in their right mind..would ever want to change.. from Coumadin to a new found drug. Bonnie

 

[Natanni]

Yup....

Yup....

Mom called me with the wonderful news about the new an improved Coumadin from the Newsweek article. In fact, several co-workers of mine were also eager to point it out.

There are people out there that pray for a safer long term anticoagulation. I am one them. My husband will be snowmobiling all day tomorrow, and in the spring on his ATV and soon after, we will be motorcycling. It sure would have been safer for him to go tissue, but to him, he wanted the valve with the least chance of reoperation. It was THAT important to him. The daily stuff with ACT, thanks go all here, has gone on with ease. He eats what he wants now, has a few beers, maybe wine here and there, and even came off amiodarone without much of a production. But the big bleed scare will be there with us forever.

On the flip side, I also pray for a great new tissue valve for future valve recipiants in the event hubby needs a re-op in his older years, or that my daughter may need a VR.

 

[Guest]

Be sure that he gets his INR checked regularly. It can take 6 months for the amiodarone to be cleared from the body.

 

[Natanni]

He does Al. He is checking weekly, every Wednesday am. He has even made a little does change on his own