title: Drug Therapies for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation: An Historical Perspective.
abstract: Oral anticoagulants are effective in minimizing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation at risk. All have a high degree of efficacy and acceptable safety records. Drug selection should be made on an individual basis. The most important thing is to make the selection. There are many factors to consider in the selection of oral anticoagulants. The new oral anticoagulants offer a measure of improvement over the many limits of warfarin; however, well-managed warfarin is an acceptable and inexpensive option. The efficacy of aspirin is questionable at best, deserving its almost complete disappearance from the guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Avenue, MS LKS 5038, Room 3080, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. Electronic address: albert.waldo@case.edu.
authors.forename: Albert L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Waldo
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Oral anticoagulants; Stroke prevention