2007 2006

News Archive: 2007

Belgian day for patients on oral anticoagulation

Did you know that…
… 100,000 Belgians are alive thanks to anticoagulants?
… 100,000 Belgians are at risk because of anticoagulants?

Organised at the Museum of Medicine on the Erasmus Campus, this very first day for patients taking oral anticoagulants (also called Vitamin K Antagonists) was highly successful: impeccable organisation, brilliant speakers in Dutch and in French, a spellbound audience and an exceptional availability of professors to answer patients’ many questions.

It’s clear that anticoagulants are no minor issue. Whether it is a case of implanting a mechanical heart valve, suffering from atrial fibrillation or preventing thrombosis, all these patients should – in cooperation with their attending physician and according to their individual risk profile - use oral anticoagulants. Both Professor N. Claes, from the University of Hasselt, and Professor Serge Motte from the Free University of Brussels (ULB), Erasmus Hospital, agree in saying that if we abide by certain rules we can live a normal life while taking oral anticoagulants, but it is nevertheless necessary to increase the frequency of monitoring the INR.

The problem is that after a few years, the patient’s veins harden and it becomes increasingly difficult or even painful to take blood samples. And yet there is a solution. Doesn’t everyone know about the glucose meters used by diabetics? Well, a similar device exists to measure the INR (prothrombin time) without taking a full blood sample: just a drop of blood drawn from your fingertip in an almost painless way. This instrument can be used at any time, anywhere in the world. In two minutes and with a little bit of experience, patients can find out their INR rate and immediately adapt their dosage of oral anticoagulant when advised by their physician or when properly trained to do it by themselves.

For more information please visit: www.girtac.be