title: Edoxaban for reducing the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral anticoagulation is central to the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and at least one additional stroke risk factor. For decades, the vitamin K antagonists (e.g. warfarin) remained the only oral anticoagulant available for stroke prevention in AF. The non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are now available, and these drugs include the direct thrombin inhibitors and factor Xa inhibitors. The latter class includes edoxaban, which has recently been approved for stroke prevention in AF by the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicine Agency. In line with other NOACs, edoxaban avoids the many limitations of warfarin associated with variability of anticoagulation effect and multiple food and drug interactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the currently available evidence on edoxaban in patients with non-valvular AF is discussed. The pharmacology, efficacy and safety, and current aspects of use of edoxaban in patients with non-valvular AF for stroke and thromboembolism prevention are reviewed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phase III trials on edoxaban for stroke prevention in non-valvular AF confirms non-inferiority of edoxaban compared to well-managed warfarin both in terms of efficacy and safety. Currently ongoing and future trials as well as real-world data are warranted to confirm its effectiveness and safety for chronic anticoagulation and improve evidence in other areas which are lacking evidence where NOAC use remains controversial.
authors.affiliation: a University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital , Birmingham B18 7QH , UK.|b Grodno State Medical University , Grodno , Belarus.
authors.forename: Mikhail S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dzeshka
authors.affiliation: a University of Birmingham Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital , Birmingham B18 7QH , UK.|c Aalborg Thrombosis Research Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine , Faculty of Health, Aalborg University , Aalborg , Denmark.
authors.forename: Gregory Y H
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Lip
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004617:Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012306:Risk; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D013844:Thiazoles; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin; C552171:edoxaban
keywords: atrial fibrillation; edoxaban; efficacy; oral anticoagulation; safety; warfarin