title: Rivaroxaban and stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation: new evidence.
abstract: In the majority of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) anticoagulation is required to reduce the risk of stroke. Although vitamin K antagonists effectively reduce the risk of stroke, they have many disadvantages that limit their use. Rivaroxaban is a new once-daily oral anticoagulant that overcomes some of these limitations (i.e., no monitoring of anticoagulant effect required and fixed doses can be prescribed). In recent AF studies, rivaroxaban was reported to be at least as effective as warfarin for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism but with a lesser risk of fatal bleeding and intracranial hemorrhage. More recent data have confirmed the beneficial effects of rivaroxaban, as originally described, and irrespective of the history of previous stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, diabetes, moderate renal dysfunction or age. In the present review the authors discuss current evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with non-valvular AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Sabadell (University Autònoma de Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain .
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez-Rubio
authors.forename: George Andrei
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dan
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kaski
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D009025:Morpholines; D013876:Thiophenes; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin; D000069552:Rivaroxaban
keywords: ROCKET-AF; anticoagulation; antithrombotic therapy; atrial fibrillation; bleeding; hemorrhage; rivaroxaban; stroke