title: Antithrombotic therapies in patients with prosthetic heart valves: guidelines translated for the clinician.
abstract: Patients with prosthetic heart valves require chronic oral anticoagulation. In this clinical scenario, physicians must be mindful of the thromboembolic and bleeding risks related to chronic anticoagulant therapy. Currently, only vitamin K antagonists are approved for this indication. This paper reviews the main heart valve guidelines focusing on the use of oral anticoagulation in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago L L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Leiria
authors.forename: Renato D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Judson B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jason N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Renato A K
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kalil
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D014812:Vitamin K