[Anticoagulant treatment]

In 1998, the sale of vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in Denmark corresponded to the amount used for treatment of more than 20,000 patients for one year. This is more than three times more than ten years earlier. The reasons for the increasing use of VKA are new indications for permanent anticoagulant treatment, especially chronic atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism associated with permanent thromboembolic risk factors. The risk of bleeding is higher in the introductory phase of anticoagulant treatment than later on. It is now recommended to commence anticoagulant therapy without a loading dose. This seems to hasten a good estimate of the maintenance dose. The metabolism of VKA depends on a number of genetic and acquired factors. Knowledge of these factors is crucial for optimal regulation of the treatment, and it is important that patients at start of treatment are thoroughly informed about these factors in order to minimize the risk of complications.