© 2004 by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd & European League Against Rheumatism
CONCISE REPORT
Low dose warfarin treatment for calcinosis in patients with systemic sclerosis
Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr T Chajek-Shaul
Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, PO Box 24035, Jerusalem 91240, Israel; chajek{at}hadassah.org.il
Objective: To evaluate the effect of low doses of warfarin in patients with systemic sclerosis with disseminated subcutaneous calcinosis.
Methods: Three patients with disseminated subcutaneous calcinosis were treated with low doses of warfarin for 1 year. Subcutaneous calcinotic lesions, coagulation blood parameters, and the tendency for bleeding were followed up during the year.
Results: Two of the patients, who had newly diagnosed, diffuse, and relatively small calcinotic lesions, responded to warfarin treatment, with complete resolution of the calcinosis. The other patient, with larger and longer standing calcinotic lesions, did not respond to warfarin treatment. None of the three patients showed a prolongation of prothrombin time or partial thromboplastin time, nor did any have an increased tendency for bleeding.
Conclusions: Low dose warfarin may serve as an effective treatment for calcinosis in a selected group of patients who have small and relatively new onset calcinosis. This treatment does not prolong the coagulation of blood and there is no increased tendency for bleeding.
Abbreviations: PT, prothrombin time; PTT, partial thromboplastin time
Keywords: subcutaneous calcinosis; CREST syndrome; warfarin; prothrombin time; partial thromboplastin time
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