What should be monitored when beginning treatment with anticoagulants?

When beginning treatment with anticoagulants, monitoring complete blood count (CBC) and renal function is essential. Anticoagulants, such as warfarin, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), or heparin, can significantly impact blood clotting parameters and overall health status.

Monitoring the complete blood count is crucial for assessing hemoglobin levels and platelet counts to detect any signs of bleeding or thrombocytopenia, which could complicate anticoagulant therapy. Additionally, renal function is important because many anticoagulants are eliminated renally, and impaired renal function can increase the risk of drug accumulation and subsequent bleeding complications.

Although other parameters like liver function, blood pressure, and dietary habits may play supportive roles in patient management and care, they do not address the immediate risks associated with anticoagulation therapy in the same direct manner as complete blood count and renal function.