anticoagulant therapy is used widely in the treatment
and prevention of thromboembolic diseases. Previous studies
have demonstrated the accuracy and precision of other portable
instruments designed for monitoring oral anticoagulation.17,18
We evaluated the statistical agreement and the clinically
relevant agreement between a new portable device for fingerstick
INR control (the AvoSure PT PRO) and the laboratory
reference method (BCT coagulometer). The INR values also
were analyzed and compared with results from the Thrombotrack
Nycomed Analyzer (a portable monitor)
Good correlation between results from the AvoSure PT
PRO and BCT coagulometer was found. Similar results also
were obtained for the INR in capillary blood samples determined
by using the Thrombotrack Nycomed Analyzer and
by using the AvoSure PT PRO. The results are in accordance
with the findings of previous studies performed with other
portable monitors.19
Differences between results for the INR obtained by
different methods were clinically significant and required
dosage changes in a small proportion of patients. However,
among those with INR ranges between 2.0 and 3.0, similar
results were obtained for patients who have a mechanical
prosthetic valve and are undergoing anticoagulation. Those
results are in contrast with previously reported results
obtained by other methods,20 although the number of
patients from the present group was small.
The present study included patients treated with acenocoumarol,
a drug currently used for oral anticoagulation in
many European countries, and confirms the results obtained
with warfarin.4,6
The AvoSure PT PRO has clear advantages over the
Thrombotrack Nycomed Analyzer in terms of manipulation
and security for nurse operators and patients. Although the
current study was performed in an anticoagulation clinic,
previous studies have shown the accuracy of portable PT
monitors and satisfactory results for self-testing at home.21
We conclude the that AvoSure PT PRO, used to test the
INR in capillary blood and plasma samples, has an acceptable
level of accuracy for oral anticoagulation control as one
of a new generation of portable prothrombin monitors and
has advantages over other portable monitors.