title: Emerging role of direct thrombin inhibitors in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: potential and peril.
abstract: Ximelagatran, an emerging new direct, oral, fixed-dose thrombin inhibitor may offer an attractive alternate to warfarin for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The lack of drug-to-drug interactions and need for coagulation monitoring parameters such as international normalized ratio and a short half-life make therapeutic control and withdrawal in the event of bleeding easier. The side-effect profile, including elevation of liver enzymes, may temper the clinical utility of long-term use ximelagatran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
authors.forename: Harold J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin