Oral anticoagulation – how intense and for how long?

Abstract. Patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses require life‐long anticoagulation and the intensity is optimal at an International Normalized Ratio (INR) of 3.0–4.0. Individual deviations from this range should be based on the type of prosthesis, the position of the prosthesis and the risk of haemorrhage. Efforts should be made to quickly correct excessive anticoagulation and to keep the treatment within the targeted range during the …