Aspirin with a mechanical valve?

[Smarticus]

I previously had a tissue valve, this time (two years later) I've been fitted with a mechanical one. This time I will be on warfarin for life, an annoyance I am prepared to accept. I was reading... "rabbit hole style" an american article where they also recommend daily aspirin between 50-100mg. I was previously on 75mg per day but no-one so far has mentioned it. The difference between aspirin and warfarin in my limited experience is "warfarin thins and aspirin stops stickiness". So the question is: Is anyone else on daily aspirin with a mechanical mitral or aortic valve?? Thanks

[Shar28]

Hello. My husband has a mechanical Aortic Valve and is on Warfarin, which doesn’t actually thin the blood but makes it less sticky so it takes longer to clot. Blood clotting time is measurement is known as INR (International Normalised Ratio) and is normally 1. Target INR with a mechanical valve for my husband is 2.5, with a range of 2-3 being acceptable.

When taking Warfarin you don’t have aspirin because you’d be affecting the clotting too much and in an uncontrolled fashion.

Hope this helps.

[Smarticus in reply to Shar28]

Thanks, but... i'm not sure you are right there? I've been on warfarin for two years and only since this MVR, the aspirin hasn't been restarted. I'm not sure why, or why not. Its not that I dont believe you but that is not my current understanding sorry... will investigate further... lots of thanks anyway...

[Shar28 in reply to Smarticus]

I’m always happy to learn so what you say is interesting. Perhaps someone with experience of MVR will be along with further information. The. HF nurses are a good source of information and of course properly qualified so they’d be a good port of call. X

[Nathan53]

Hello - I have no direct knowledge of combining warfarin and aspirin but found the some info in BMJ bmj.com/content/3I think much closer monitoring of INR level is required if aspirin is included in the meds regime

[Smarticus in reply to Nathan53]

thanks, link didnt work, but I think it was this one...bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3956 and the quote is "Low dose aspirin can be added to warfarin in patients with higher risk of thromboembolic events, though the risk of bleeding is increased and closer monitoring of the dose of warfarin will be required"I feel like i'm chasing my tail now....

[Nathan53]

Sorry I don't think the link I attached is working, try googling warfarin and aspirin in patients with mechanical heart valve. From what I can see the combination is usually given to complex and high risk individuals as there is an increased risk of stroke.

[Smarticus in reply to Nathan53]

Hi, thanks so much. I think this was one of the articles I was looking at 3am this morning!! acc.org/latest-in-cardiolog... Im so confused I need a gin and tonic!

[Nathan53 in reply to Smarticus]

Make it a large G&T with ice & a slice.I sometimes find variations between how different countries approach drug therapy regimes. A year after my heart attack I wanted to continue on DAPT (dual anti platelet therapy) as I read an Australian research paper talking of the benefits. My Cardiologist here advised against it as he felt there was an increased risk of stroke. I don't think your GP would prescribe but could you email Cardiologist and ask maybe attach copy of the American research. All best

[Smarticus in reply to Nathan53]

and i become an example of why you shouldn't use google at 3am lol... take care

[Smarticus in reply to Smarticus]

so research so far (and the most authority? UK based response)... Aspirin should NOT be used at the same time as an anticoagulant bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/aspiri... so that answers that question

[werd]

I have a little experience of warfarin. 47 years of it. I was put on a low dose aspirin for a couple of weeks after a stent 12 years ago to prevent thrombosis while still on warfarinPs it was an avr op 47 years ago

[Cliff_G]

I was on both to start with after an AV plus a stent, and I think the aspirin was for the stent, it was to be for a year or two. My Cardiologist took me off aspirin at about 18 months, leaving just warfarin, for reasons of excessive bleeding risk