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Meeting the Unmet Needs in Anticoagulant Therapy
Author(s) -
Jeffrey I. Weitz
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2010.01461.x
Subject(s) - medicine , warfarin , vitamin k , oral anticoagulant , anticoagulant therapy , intensive care medicine , stroke (engine) , atrial fibrillation , surgery , mechanical engineering , engineering
Although parenteral anticoagulants are suitable for short-term indications, oral anticoagulants are preferable for long-term use. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) such as warfarin are the only oral anticoagulants currently licensed for long-term use. Although effective, VKAs have multiple limitations that explain, at least in part, their under-use for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and in other indications. Even when they are prescribed, the level of anticoagulation with VKAs is frequently outside the therapeutic range, potentially compromising safety and efficacy. These limitations have prompted development of new oral anticoagulants that target thrombin or Factor Xa. Designed to be given in fixed doses without routine anticoagulation monitoring, these new agents have the potential to revolutionize long-term anticoagulation therapy.