Insights from the dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation (RE-LY) trial.
Oral anticoagulants such as warfarin have been used widely for the treatment of venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Warfarin has significant limitations and also requires frequent monitoring. Thus, there is an unmet need, with the quest for alternative oral anticoagulants with stable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics that do not need monitoring. The paper under evaluation provides us with up-to-date information on the safety and efficacy of a new oral anticoagulant, dabigatran, compared with warfarin for stroke prevention in AF patients.
Khoo
Chee W
CW
University of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK. g.y.h.lip@bham.ac.uk
Lip
Gregory Y H
GY
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069604:Dabigatran; D006801:Humans; D011725:Pyridines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D014859:Warfarin; D000069604:Dabigatran