title: The evolution of oral anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: Before the advent of oral, targeted anticoagulants, physicians had no choice regarding the type of oral anticoagulant prescribed, as every patient received warfarin. The new oral direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors give the prescribing physician, as well as the patient, greater choice. Variation in dosing, half-life, elimination, monitoring, and reversal will help the clinician decide on the appropriate anticoagulant for the appropriate patient. Rather than replace warfarin, each anticoagulant will now have a particular niche, and the decision of which agent to prescribe will be determined at the bedside.
authors: Department of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, 100 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10075, USA. cdittus@nshs.edu
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Dittus
authors: Jack
authors: J
authors: Ansell
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D000077425:Fondaparinux; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019934:International Normalized Ratio; D055118:Medication Adherence; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010314:Partial Thromboplastin Time; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin; D000077425:Fondaparinux