Question

Which of the subsequent anticoagulants is used in artificial heart valves?
(A) Warfarin
(B) Aspirin
(C) Heparin
(D) None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Mechanical heart valves require anticoagulation to stop valve-associated thrombosis and thromboembolic stroke. Anticoagulants, more commonly mentioned as “blood thinners”, work by inhibiting the clotting factors. Antiplatelets will work by inhibiting the enzymes that cause the platelets to clump together. Antiplatelets are used for prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases.

Complete answer:
Option A (Warfarin): Oral vitamin K antagonists like warfarin are prescribed universally; however, oral agents don't act immediately and typically require a minimum of 5 days to realize a therapeutic effect.
So, option A isn't correct.
Option B (Aspirin): Aspirin is an Antiplatelets drug. Antiplatelets will work by inhibiting the enzymes that cause the platelets to clump together.
So, option B isn't correct.
Option C (Heparin): Heparin, also referred to as unfractionated heparin (UFH), may be a medication and present glycosaminoglycan. As a medicine it's used as an anticoagulant. Specifically, it's also utilized in the treatment of heart attacks and unstable angina. It's given by injection into a vein or under the skin.
So, option C is correct.
Option D (None of the above): As Heparin appears to be relatively safe to be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. So, none of those may be a wrong answer.
So, option D isn't correct.

So, option C is correct.

Note:
An artificial heart valve may be a one-way valve implanted into an individual's heart to exchange a valve that's not functioning properly. Artificial implant valves are often separated into three broad classes: mechanical heart valves, bioprosthetic tissue valves and engineered tissue valves. The traditional method of anticoagulation requires frequent blood tests to check prothrombin test and international ratio.