Chronic Kidney Disease as Basis of High Thrombotic and Bleeding Risk in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Place of Oral Anticoagulants

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) aggravates course of practically all diseases by worsening outcomes and hindering adequate treatment. Specificities of renal excretion of various drugs, changes of parameters of their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, nephrotoxic effects of drugs, tactics of drug therapy in conditions of CKD, terminal stage of kidney failure and dialysis are in the focus of attention of internists. To a greatest degree difficulties of drug therapy in CKD and associated clinical states refer to the group of anticoagulants. Kidney diseases and related complications of anticoagulant therapy served as stimulus for search for new pharmacological approaches in anticoagulation, which resulted in creation and elaboration of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs). NOACs are characterized by rapid onset and cessation of action, predictable pharmacokinetics, low potential of interaction with drugs and foods. Indicators of efficacy and safety of NOACs are similar to those of warfarin. Nevertheless, hemorrhagic and thrombotic events constitute the basis of further theoretical and practical investigations. These complications also stimulate aiming at selection of safest and balanced medicines. In this article we present various aspects of use of direct oral anticoagulants mostly in patients with CKD associated with atrial fibrillation.