title: Use of rivaroxaban in an elderly patient with intermediate-low early mortality risk due to pulmonary embolism: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary embolism remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. The standard treatment for pulmonary embolism is anticoagulant therapy using low molecular weight heparin, fondaparinux and a vitamin K antagonist, but a recent clinical trial showed that rivaroxaban, an oral factor Xa inhibitor, was as effective as standard therapy for the initial and long-term treatment of pulmonary embolism and had less bleeding complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present report describes the case of an 80-year-old white man with an intermediate to low early mortality risk of pulmonary embolism. He was successfully treated with rivaroxaban (administered orally as monotherapy), demonstrating rapid benefit without any adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rivaroxaban, particularly in the acute phase of pulmonary embolism, may be considered an effective and safe therapeutic choice even in elderly patients, a population less represented in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: UO PS/MURG OC S. Maria delle Croci, Viale Randi 5, 48121, Ravenna, Italy. menicmauri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menichetti
authors.affiliation: UO PS/MURG OC S. Maria delle Croci, Viale Randi 5, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosso
authors.affiliation: UO PS/MURG OC S. Maria delle Croci, Viale Randi 5, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menegatti
authors.affiliation: UO PS/MURG OC S. Maria delle Croci, Viale Randi 5, 48121, Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pazzaglia
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000069552:Rivaroxaban