title: Antithrombotic therapy in atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Warfarin is highly effective at reducing the risk of stroke in atrial fibrillation. The benefit of oral anticoagulant therapy strongly outweighs the risk in most patients with atrial fibrillation. More data are needed to define better the overall risk-to-benefit ratio for patients age 80 years and greater. Because a significant proportion of elderly individuals may not be optimal candidates for anticoagulant therapy, alternative stroke prevention strategies must continue to be evaluated while redoubling efforts to understand the mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation and thrombogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. davgarcia@salud.unm.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Elaine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hylek
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014859:Warfarin