title: The new oral anticoagulants: Reasonable alternatives to warfarin.
abstract: Dabigatran (a direct thrombin inhibitor) and rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban (direct activated factor X inhibitors) are increasingly being used in clinical practice. Compared with vitamin K antagonists, they are more convenient, do not require laboratory monitoring, have limited drug and food interactions, and have fixed dosages suitable for most patients. But the shortcomings of these agents can jeopardize their efficacy and increase the risk of bleeding. Their future role in preventing and treating thromboembolic disease will depend on building clinical experience, but current evidence indicates that they are reasonable alternatives to vitamin K antagonists.
authors.affiliation: Hospital General, University Jaume I, Catalunya, Castellon, Spain. E-mail: broca@uji.es.
authors.forename: Bernardino
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.affiliation: Hospital Provincial, University Jaume I, Castellon, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roca
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069604:Dabigatran / Q000627:therapeutic use; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000991:Antithrombins; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011725:Pyridines; D011728:Pyridones; D013844:Thiazoles; C522181:apixaban; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran; C552171:edoxaban