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Limitations of Traditional Anticoagulants
Author(s) -
Hawkins David
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.24.10.62s.36120
Subject(s) - fondaparinux , warfarin , medicine , intensive care medicine , heparin , coagulation , anticoagulant , venous thromboembolism , surgery , thrombosis , atrial fibrillation
Warfarin and unfractionated heparin have been in clinical use for more than 50 years. Both are effective anticoagulants, but their use is associated with a number of impediments, including the need for intensive coagulation monitoring, wide variation in dose‐response relationships, multiple drug interactions (in the case of warfarin), and serious immune‐mediated thrombocytopenia (in the case of heparin). The introduction of low‐molecular‐weight heparins 10 years ago advanced anticoagulation therapy by enhancing efficacy and eliminating the need for intensive coagulation monitoring. Fondaparinux, the first selective factor Xa inhibitor, represents yet another improvement in anticoagulation therapy with even greater efficacy and safety.