Controversies in the Treatment and Prevention of VTE With Warfarin

In this expert commentary, Dr Samuel Goldhaber discusses recent data on the utilization of warfarin for the treatment and prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), as well as the issues and clinical opinions surrounding these data. Current controversies that involve warfarin include pharmacogenetic management, dosing issues, duration of therapy, emerging agents that may supplant warfarin, and drug-drug interactions, among others. This educational activity draws further attention to this timely clinical topic that has received much recent attention. This activity also addresses the barriers to the implementation of thromboprophylaxis in medically ill patients and explains the benefits of thromboprophylaxis in reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with VTE in these patients.