LETTER
Warfarin: Less May Be Better
Carl D. Atkins, MD
15 August 1997 | Volume 127 Issue 4 | Page 332
TO THE EDITOR:
I understand the need for "brief communications," but there is such a thing as too brief. Harrison and colleagues' interesting article [1] comparing different loading doses of warfarin leaves out some essential information. How are we to assess the generalizability of the results when so little information is provided about the patients in the trial? How old were they? What were the indications for anticoagulation? What other medical problems did the patients have? More important, the authors note that after the initial dose. "subsequent doses were determined on the basis of nomograms that were developed before the study began through an iterative process." Wouldn't it be appropriate to share the details of these nomograms with the readers?
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Author and Article Information
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South Shore Hematology-Oncology Associates; Rockville Centre, NY 11570
1. Harrison L, Johnston M, Massicotte MP, Crowther M, Moffat K, Hirsh J. Comparison of 5-mg and 10-mg loading doses in initiation of warfarin therapy. Ann Intern Med. 1997; 126:133-6.
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