title: Direct oral anticoagulants: unique properties and practical approaches to management.
abstract: Since 2009, four direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been introduced for treatment of venous thromboembolism and stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. While they are currently first-line therapy for a majority of patients, there are a number of clinical situations where warfarin is preferable. In both randomised trials and real-world populations, use of DOACs significantly reduces the risk of intracranial haemorrhage as compared with warfarin. While drug-specific reversal agents are currently only available for dabigatran, andexanet alpha is pending approval for reversal of factor Xa inhibitors, reducing concerns about major bleeding for many patients and providers. DOACs can be held for 2-4 days prior to a procedure, depending on a patient's renal function, but should not be restarted too rapidly post-procedurally given their fast time to peak activity (∼2 hours). The anticoagulation clinic should play an important role in managing patients on all oral anticoagulation, both warfarin and DOACs.
authors.affiliation: Frankel Cardiovascular Center and Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Geoffrey D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Frankel Cardiovascular Center Outpatient Anticoagulation Service, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kurtz
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D001780:Blood Coagulation Tests; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000139:chemically induced; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin