Ariel Sharon
treated with an Anticoagulant

Medical Report
By J . Dominguez, M.D.

    Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon was treated with an anticoagulant, a blood-thinner, after his first stroke on Dec.18, 2005.

    It is a procedure often used after a stroke, but it is a very difficult decision to make for any Doctor:

        - If the stroke is due to a thrombosis, to a clot, the anticoagulant will help to prevent another stroke.

        - But on the other hand, the anticoagulant will help to have bleeding in the brain.   

    The anticoagulant Sharon was taking did not cause the blood vessel in Sharon's head to burst, however it may have contributed to have the widespread bleeding in his brain on the second stroke on Wednesday, January 4, 2006, and complicated the surgery on Thursday.

    The anticoagulants used are the type of heparin, coumadin or aspirin, with aspirin the mildest one. Sharon was placed on enoxaparin, a kind of heparin, a strong anticoagulant.

    The prognosis on the second stroke, of the brain massive hemorrhage is very serious, life threatening, and at 77, not too many people make a good recovery from a brain hemorrhage.