title: Anticoagulant treatment: the end of the old agents?
abstract: New oral anticoagulants used as single target inhibitors of coagulation enzymes have been developed and tested in extensive trial programmes. Results of most of these trials showed non-inferior and/or superior efficacy and safety compared to standard treatment with LMWH or VKA. These results led to registration of these agents for the prophylaxis or treatment of thrombosis, as well as stroke prophylaxis in atrial fibrillation. In addition to good efficacy and safety these agents are more convenient in their use and promise advantages in quality of life. Caution is needed, though, since drug-interactions, interferences with coagulation tests and risk of accumulation in case of renal failure should always be taken into consideration when planning a treatment. In the present current-opinion review these advantages and disadvantages are discussed and expressed options are analysed.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Dimitrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tsakiris
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069604:Dabigatran; D004347:Drug Interactions; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000991:Antithrombins; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D009025:Morpholines; D013876:Thiophenes; D015091:beta-Alanine; D011516:Prothrombin; C025337:Factor IIa; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran