Abstract
Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) face an increased risk of stroke compared with those in normal sinus rhythm. The vitamin K antagonist warfarin, available for over half a century, is highly effective in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with AF, but it is a difficult drug to use properly. As a result, it is challenging to keep the anticoagulant effect of warfarin in the desired range. Newer oral anticoagulants (NOACs) that directly inhibit Factor IIa (thrombin) or Factor Xa provide reliable anticoagulation when administer in fixed oral doses without routine coagulation monitoring. This manuscript will review in detail the pivotal trials of these NOACs that led to their approval as well as comment on the factors that should influence their selection.
Keywords: Anticoagulation, antithrombotic therapy, atrial fibrillation, factor IIa inhibitors, factor Xa inhibitors, stroke, thrombin, thromboembolism.
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Managing Cardiogenic Shock and the Value of Percutaneous Mechanical Circulatory Support.
Despite the advances in cardiology, the outcomes of patients with cardiogenic shock remain poor. There is an increasing interest and use of mechanical circulatory support for patients with cardiogenic shock. Additionally, the complexity of coronary interventions has increased during the last decade with the potential of treating more high-risk patients ...read more
Chronic Disease Self-Management for Heart Failure – A Mini review into Performance Gaps
Chronic disease self-management (CDSM)is a vital component of chronic disease management. There remain several important deficits in this concept. Its benefit are clear, many chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, rheumatology syndromes have shown benefit in quality of life and quantitative measures of outcomes. Yet, in congestive heart failure ...read more
The era of cardiac medication and implantable devices therapy in heart failure treatment continues
The heart failure (HF) remains a serious public health problem and affects 64 million people worldwide. Although advances in medical therapy and device assistance have significantly improved HF outcomes, the implications of HF are still dramatic. In recent years, innovative developments have been made in HF treatment management, based on ...read more
Related Books
Blood Oxidant Ties: The Evolving Concepts in Myocardial Injury and Cardiovascular Disease
Advancements in Cardiovascular Research and Therapeutics: Molecular and Nutraceutical Perspectives
Herbal Medicine: Back to the Future
Cardiac Care and COVID-19: Perspectives in Medical Practice
Nanomedicinal Approaches Towards Cardiovascular Disease
Herbal Medicine: Back to the Future
41