title: [Anticoagulant treatment of patients with atrial fibrillations: dependent on age and other risk factors for thromboembolism].
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmic disorder which is becoming increasingly prevalent among the elderly. Atrial fibrillation is an independent risk factor for ischaemic stroke. Patients with hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, age older than 65 years, previous thromboembolisms, left atrial enlargement and left ventricular dysfunction have an increased risk. Coumarins (with a target international normalised ratio (INR) of 2.0 to 3.0) are the treatment of first choice in patients with atrial fibrillation. In young patients without additional risk factors, acetyl salicylic acid provides sufficient protection. The management of anticoagulant therapy during electric cardioversion in the acute phase of an ischaemic stroke and during elective surgical interventions, is still a subject of clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Afd. Vasculaire Geneeskunde, Academisch Medisch Centrum/Universiteit van Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam. r.vink@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vink
authors.forename: R B A
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: van den Brink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants