title: A new era for oral anticoagulation? Old and new anticoagulant drugs.
abstract: The expanding demand for long-term antithrombotic therapy and the major limitations of the vitamin-K antagonists, namely their narrow therapeutic range, numerous drug interactions and need for laboratory monitoring, have stimulated the development of new antithrombotic agents. Direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors are the new classes of orally available anticoagulants that are most advanced in development. Large clinical trials evaluate several compounds both in the primary and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism and in the prevention of cardioembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Medicine and Coagulation Disorders, Centre for Molecular and Vascular Biology, Gasthuisberg University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium. Peter.Verhamme@uz.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verhamme
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000933:Antifibrinolytic Agents; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D014812:Vitamin K