title: Questions and answers on the use of dabigatran and perspectives on the use of other new oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation. A consensus document of the Italian Federation of Thrombosis Centers (FCSA).
abstract: Dabigatran and other new oral anticoagulants (OAC) represent a step forward in stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). They indeed have been shown to be an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) without the burden of laboratory control. However, these new drugs compete with an effective and well-established therapy, thus bringing about a series of questions and doubts. In this report members of the board of the Italian Federation of Thrombosis Centers (FCSA) answer some questions every clinician might be confronted with.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Cardiology, Thrombosis Center, Padova, Italy. vittorio.pengo@unipd.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pengo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falanga
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Finazzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marongiu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palareti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tiraferri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosetto
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tripodi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manotti
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069604:Dabigatran; D057915:Drug Substitution; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D018579:Patient Selection; D011322:Primary Prevention; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D015091:beta-Alanine; D014859:Warfarin; D000069604:Dabigatran