title: Transitioning from traditional to novel anticoagulants: the impact of oral direct thrombin inhibitors on anticoagulation management.
abstract: Limitations of traditional anticoagulants have led to the need for structured services to provide anticoagulation monitoring. Anticoagulation management services have historically filled this role. Novel antithrombotic agents currently in development have the potential to improve on the limitations of vitamin K antagonists and injectable forms of heparin and to change the field of anticoagulation management. Of the emerging agents, oral direct thrombin inhibitors present the most promise and have a more practical clinical profile. The introduction of the oral direct thrombin inhibitors may present both an opportunity and a threat to anticoagulation management services and anticoagulation service providers. Traditional anticoagulation monitoring services will have to retool for the future if they are to remain relevant in the new era of novel antithrombotic.agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA. enutescu@uic.edu
authors.forename: Edith A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nutescu
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Spinler
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Dager
authors.forename: Henry I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Bussey
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D013917:Thrombin