Anti-Clotting Drug Works For Heart Rhythm Problem

The drug warfarin can reduce the risk of stroke in people with a heart rhythm problem, says a review of eight studies. In people with atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart don’t pump properly. Blood collects in them, and can clot. The drug warfarin helps to prevent these clots, which can get stuck in blood vessels and lead to a stroke. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic looked at information from more than 32,000 people. Some took warfarin (also known as Coumadin) and others took newer anti-clotting drugs. Warfarin is effective, but the dose must be adjusted to balance the risk of clotting and the risk of bleeding. Warfarin dose adjustments have gotten easier and the new drugs are quite expensive, said the study authors, so warfarin will likely remain the drug of choice for some time.