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Kerry Kaplan, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1986;146(3):593-597.

Abstract
• Although several large trials have failed to demonstrate unequivocally that anticoagulation decreases mortality following myocardial infarction (MI), anticoagulation has been advocated to prevent embolic cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). Since CVAs occur during hospitalization in only 1.5% to 3% of MIs, it is not justifiable to anticoagulate all patients after MI because the risk of anticoagulation exceeds the potential benefit. However, a group of patients who are at high risk of developing left ventricular thrombi (LVT) and CVA following MI can be identified. Thirty percent to 40% of patients with transmural anterior MI develop LVT, and early anticoagulation with heparin sodium prevents LVT formation and CVAs in this group. A two-dimensional echocardiogram before hospital discharge allows the identification of patients at risk for later embolization and helps determine the need for anticoagulation with warfarin sodium following hospitalization.

(Arch Intern Med 1986;146:593-597)

Author Affiliations
From the Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 29, 1985.

Reprint requests to Wesley Pavilion 628, 251 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 (Dr Kaplan).

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