warfarin side effects

Posted By  CCF cardio MD - SK on December 07, 1997 at 20:25:29:

In Reply to: warfarin side effects posted by Shaun on December 02, 1997 at 04:20:10:

: Hi,
  Could someone please help?
  My father, age 61 has been on Cortisone all his life (for Asthma treatment)
   - this resulted in an enlarged heart and the need to implant a pace maker.
  I recall he has always taken long to heal from leg injuries (cuts, etc).
  He was placed on Warfarin at the time of his pacemaker. Since his Warfarin
  treatment he has had endless leg ulcers which refuse to heal (even after
  skin grafts) he also has problems with swelling feet, has problems walking
  etc. Is there some alternative to Warfarin? Is there something that can
  be done? Are the ulcers related to the Warfarin?
  With Thanks
  Shaun

[CCF CARDIO MD SK]

Dear Shaun,
Warfarin is a medication that keeps the blood from clotting. This property of the medication is utilized in various medical conditions to prevent clot formation inside of the blood vessels or the heart. Pacemaker implantation is not an indication for using this medication. So, I think that there must be some other indication like irregular heart beats or blood clot in the leg veins for the use of this medication.
Anyway, the ulcers on the legs are not related to the use of Warfarin. Leg swelling on the other hand is very likely the cause of these stubborn ulcers. Treatment of the cause of leg swelling is the most important measure that may help the ulcers to heal. The leg swelling may be caused by venous insufficiency which could respond to elevation of legs or may be from various other causes including heart failure.
I hope I have clarified some of the issues for you. Without details of the problem it is difficult to suggest alternatives of this treatment. If you are seeking a second opinion or further evaluation, an appointment with one of our cardiologists can be arranged by calling the Cleveland Clinic at [phone].
Information provided in the Heart Forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only. Actual diagnosis and treatment of any particular medical condition can only be made by your family physician(s).