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Question:
Why aren't anti thrombotics used in management of endocarditis?
submitted by Medo from Syria on 6/12/2014
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Scott R. Sherron, MD
Anti thrombotic meds are not intrinsically part of the treatment of bacterial endocarditis. The key treatment modality is antibiotic therapy. The emboli that can occur are from the vegetation that is made up of both inflammatory reaction and bacteria but not primarily thrombin. They are not reduced by the use of anticoagulants.
Of course, with any systemic illness thrombotic complications can occur. In those selected cases the addition of anti-coagulant medications can be important.
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Updated June 2014
