Indications for Bishydroxycoumarin (Dicumarol®) in Acute Myocardial Infarction

The data reported by Wright, Marple and Beck1indicate that the mortality rate and incidence of thromboembolic complications in acute myocardial infarction are significantly lower among patients treated with anticoagulants than among those managed solely by conventional methods. Thus, in a control group 23.4 per cent of the patients died as compared with only 16 per cent in a similar series of treated patients. Similarly, the rate of thromboembolic complications recognized clinically was 41.8 per cent in the control group and only 13.1 per cent in the patients receiving bishydroxycoumarin (dicumarol®). From these significant statistical differences, Wright and his associates concluded that it is important to give anticoagulant therapy to all patients with coronary occlusion and myocardial infarction, "since it is impossible to predict from the condition of the patient during the first week whether thromboembolic complications will develop during subsequent weeks and whether death will occur from them."