title: [Anticoagulation and antiaggregation in cardiac patients].
abstract: Aspirin treatment for primary prevention is safe and useful at an annual coronary event risk > or = 1.5%. Both aspirin and clopidogrel reduce the rate of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary disease. Clopidogrel in addition to aspirin further reduces cardiovascular events, but is associated with and increased bleeding risk. Recent studies in patients with myocardial infarction suggest that treatment with either coumadin or with coumadin and aspirin are both at least as effective than treatment with aspirin alone. Thromboembolism and bleeding during therapeutic anticoagulation are the major chronic risks for patients with native valvular heart disease and mechanical prosthetic valves. The recommendations for the prevention of thromboembolic events and bleeding complications are discussed and recommended intensity of antithrombotic therapy are outlined. Key points of the guidelines for managing patients with atrial fibrillation are summarised.
authors.affiliation: Herzzentrum Bern, Bern. meyer@herzzentrum-bern.ch
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011322:Primary Prevention; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010919:Placebos; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D013988:Ticlopidine; D001241:Aspirin