title: Pharmacologic Therapies in Anticoagulation.
abstract: Anticoagulants are beneficial for prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. The development of target-specific oral anticoagulants is changing the landscape of anticoagulation therapy and created growing interest on this subject. Understanding the pharmacology of different anticoagulants is the first step to adequately treat patients with best available therapy while avoiding serious bleeding complications. This article reviews the pharmacology of the main anticoagulant classes (vitamin K antagonists, direct oral anticoagulants, and heparins) and their clinical indications based on evidence-based data currently available in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington Medical Center, 1959 North East Pacific Street, Box 356429, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: limaferr@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Joana Lima
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center of Excellence in Primary Care Education, Seattle VA Puget Sound Health Care System, University of Washington, 1660 South Columbian Way (S-123-CoE), Seattle, WA 98108, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wipf
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000991:Antithrombins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D015897:Comorbidity; D016638:Critical Illness; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000517:prevention & control; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D000991:Antithrombins; D014812:Vitamin K; D006493:Heparin
keywords: Anticoagulation; Atrial fibrillation; Direct oral anticoagulants; Heparin; Venous thromboembolism; Warfarin