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Dear colleague,
This email updates you on details of recently published MHRA guidance on the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic aimed at supporting healthcare partners.
Warfarin and other anticoagulants – monitoring of patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
We were contacted by King’s College Hospital (KCH) in London regarding their concerns over an apparent increase in the number of patients taking warfarin found to have elevated international normalised ratio (INR) values during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most, but not all of these patients had suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection while others had recently been treated with antibiotics.
The observations from KCH have prompted us to issue a reminder to healthcare professionals and patients of existing advice on the potential for drug interactions between certain antibiotics/antivirals and some oral anticoagulants and the need to monitor INR in patients with intercurrent illness taking vitamin K antagonists in case dose reduction is required.
Patients are also advised to let their GP and anticoagulation clinic know if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are ill with COVID-19 symptoms.
Please see our website for guidance and key messages for healthcare professionals.
Medical devices given exceptional use authorisations during the COVID-19 pandemic
We have updated the list of medical devices given exceptional use authorisations and the list of devices no longer covered.
Guidance for industry
We continue to update our guidance page for industry on GOV.UK as our response to COVID-19 evolves.
Subscribing to updates on GOV.UK
You can sign up for email updates about the MHRA’s work – you will then receive an email every time the MHRA publishes a new page or makes a significant edit to an existing page.
Contacting the MHRA
Most of our workforce is working from home, although National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) is continuing essential laboratory activities on site. If you need to get in touch with the MHRA during this period, please email or phone us.
For more information please visit mhra.gov.uk.
We welcome your feedback on what other information you would find useful – please email engagement@mhra.gov.uk.
Kind regards,
Patient, Public and Stakeholder Engagement team
Communications division
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU
Telephone: 0203 080 6000
Email: engagement@mhra.gov.uk
gov.uk/mhra
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Read our guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
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