When doctors are trying to assess an AF patient’s chance of bleeding while taking anticoagulant medications like Multaq, there may be a new tool that is easy to use that may be a bit better than other tools. This is according to a new post-hoc analysis of the AMADEUS study, which was published online in the Journal of American College of Cardiology on August 1, 2012.

For this new study, researchers analyzed the HAS-BLED score (Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function, Stroke – Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio [INR], Elderly, Drugs/alcohol) to see if it worked in being able to predict when bleeding would occur in a clinically important manner when it was compared with the “HEMORR2HAGES (Hepatic or renal disease, Ethanol abuse, Malignancy, Older age, Reduced platelet count or function, Re-bleeding, Hypertension, Anemia, Genetic factors, Excessive fall risk and Stroke) and ATRIA (AnTicoagulation and Risk factors In AF).”

In making this comparison, the HAS-BLED tool was the only one that worked in properly predicting a patient’s chances of suffering from an intracranial hemorrhage.

“The issue is to be able to determine which patient is potentially at risk of bleeding, rather than guess work, which is what cardiologists used to do before the bleeding risk scores came into the guidelines,” said lead author, Gregory Y. H. Lip, MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, who helped develop the HAS-BLED. “We can now at least give an informed decision about the potential risk.”

One anticoagulant drug on the market today is Multaq, which is made by Sanofi-Aventis. Multaq has been linked to liver failure and worsening of the heart condition, and because of this, the drug is only recommended for use if other medications for AF treatment fails.

If you or a loved one has suffered from liver failure or a worsening heart condition after being treated with Multaq, contact the attorneys at Greg Jones today for a free consultation. I am experienced at fighting Multaq lawsuits and may be able to help you recover money for your injuries.