title: The evolution of anticoagulant therapy.
abstract: Arterial and venous thromboembolism are leading causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. For almost 70 years, heparins (unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparins) and vitamin K antagonists have been the leading therapeutic medical options for the treatment and prevention of thromboembolic disorders. Nevertheless, the many limitations of these traditional anticoagulants have fuelled the search for novel agents over the past 15 years, and a new class of oral anticoagulants that specifically target activated factor X and thrombin has been developed and is now commercially available. In this narrative review, the evolution of anticoagulant therapy is summarised, with a focus on newer oral anticoagulants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantua, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franchini
authors.affiliation: Italian National Blood Centre, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Liumbruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, Carlo Poma Hospital, Mantua, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonfanti
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006493:Heparin / Q000266:history / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000266:history; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D014812:Vitamin K; D006493:Heparin