Should Dialysis Patients Ever Receive Warfarin and for What Reasons?

[摘要] It has been common practice for dialysis patients with problematic vascular access to receive warfarin for the purposes of keeping the access functional. This, of course, increases the risk for bleeding. Also, in light of new knowledge, vascular calcification may be enhanced by warfarin (1). Therefore, a reexamination of this common practice seems warranted because the efficacy of anticoagulation for access maintenance has never been established. The available evidence does not allow an evidence-based approach. Therefore, this article is an opinion, based on what is published. The issue obviously warrants a prospective study because the clinical practice is widespread.

[学科分类] 泌尿医学

[关键词] Bone marrow necrosis;Sickle cell disease;Hyperhemolysis syndrome