The Downside of Blood Thinners

Ivanhoe Newswire
Tuesday, January 9, 2007; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- People taking blood thinners, like the drug warfarin (Coumadin), to ward off a stroke caused by a blood clot may be increasing their risk for an even worse stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati report the incidence of intracerebral brain hemorrhage increased five times from the late 1980s to the late 1990s in people taking these medications, which doctors commonly prescribe for those with an irregular heartbeat. Irregular heartbeats, also known as atrial fibrillation, become more common as people age and increase their risk of blood clots, which can lead to ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke is the most common kind of stroke and results when a clot breaks off and travels to the brain.

The study is based on data gathered from all patients in the greater Cincinnati area who were hospitalized with intracerebral hemorrhage in the years 1988, 1993 to 1994, and 1999. Strokes associated with blood thinners rose from .8 per 100,000 people in 1988 to 4.4 per 100,000 people in 1999. In people age 80 and older, the rate skyrocketed from 2.5 to 45.9 in the same time.

So, should people quit taking blood thinners to prevent ischemic strokes? No, report the researchers, who note the benefits of the drugs still outweigh the risks. However, they do believe their findings suggest a need for "safer alternatives to warfarin, improved risk stratification for elderly patients, and better treatments for patients with hemorrhagic complications."

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SOURCE: Neurobiology, 2007;68:116-121