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| during the coagulation process and thus cannot | | during the coagulation process and thus cannot |
| actively participate in fibrin formation. | | actively participate in fibrin formation. |
| + | |
| + | |
| + | Warfarin and similar compounds interfere with the regeneration of vitamin K from an intermediate formed during the action |
| + | of vitamin K as an essential co-factor in the production of several of the factors involved in the clotting cascade. This is by competitive |
| + | inhibition of the enzyme involved in the regenerative process and leads to a reduction in available vitamin K, thereby resulting |
| + | in defective blood clotting. Vitamin K dependent clotting factors are VII, IX, 11 and X so the intrinsic pathway (activated by blood |
| + | vessel injury), the extrinsic pathway (activated by tissue injury) and the final common pathway (with conversion of prothrombin |
| + | to thrombin, formation of fibrin and stabilisation of the platelets) is affected. However, the primary haemostatic response (formation |
| + | of platelet plug) is unaffected. |
| + | Increased blood vessel fragility also appears to be a result of coumarin toxicity and may account for bleeding at sites that are |
| + | not subject to external trauma. |
| + | Following absorption, coumarins are carried bound to plasma albumin. Therefore, effects are potentiated by drugs that are also |
| + | bound to albumin such as phenylbutazone, or conditions that result in low plasma albumin levels such as renal insufficiency. |
| | | |
| ==Signalment== | | ==Signalment== |