title: [Atrial fibrillation in elderly].
abstract: Atrial fibrilation (AF) is frequent and a strong risk factor for ischemic stroke in elderly. Ischemic stroke in patients with AF are more severe. Vitamine K antagonist therapy is highly effective for stroke prevention but is associated with hemorrhagic risk. The new oral anticoagulants (direct thrombin inhibitor [dabigatran], and direct factor Xa inhibitors [rivaroxaban and apixaban]) have all shown non inferiority or superiority, with better safety, considering the risk of intracranial haemorrhage. On this basis, it is justified to give them in priority in the vast majority of patients with AF, the choice of the drug and the dose is individual.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, hôpital Gui-de-Chauliac, 34 000 Montpellier, France. c-arquizan@chu-montpellier.fr
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arquizan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans