[The anticoagulation clinic: that can not be ignored].

Complications linked to drug absorption are most frequently observed in the case of treatment by vitamin K antagonist (VKA), whereas 1% of the French population is treated by VKA. Despite official recommendations renewal, these complications are not decreasing. The experience of anticoagulation clinics (AC) in other countries proves their efficiency in the reduction of two-thirds of hemorragies and thrombotic recurrences. The concept of AC strictly obliged to associate therapeutic education to the patient and the calculation of the treatment dosage. Our experience started in 1998. We suggest a patient education at first during an individual consultation then during a group session. A multicentric prospective evaluation of AC vs. the conventional follow-up is on the way in France having as objectives to test the clinical efficiency and the comparison of the cost for such a supervision. In any case, important efforts have to be accomplished regarding the support of present and future antithrombotics. Their complexity of indications, supervision, and tolerance has to reinforce the rigour of therapeutic steps from the prescription to the absorption of the drug, with the possibility to appeal to the AC.