title: The association of direct thrombin inhibitor anticoagulants with cardiac thromboses.
abstract: Direct thrombin inhibitor (anti-factor IIa) anticoagulants, now established for treatment and prevention of cardiac thromboembolism and VTE, have been repeatedly associated with a significantly increased frequency of thrombosis on abnormal cardiac endothelium when compared head-to-head with indirectly acting therapeutic anticoagulants in studies of sufficient patient number and duration. Although there is uncertainty as to the mechanism, the weight of evidence as a class effect warrants prescribing effective anticoagulants other than direct thrombin inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle WA.. Electronic address: brucedavidson@pobox.com.
authors.forename: Bruce L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013917:Thrombin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D013917:Thrombin