title: Reversal Agents for the Direct Oral Anticoagulants.
abstract: The vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are associated with a significant rate of major and fatal bleeding complications. The new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), even though having a better bleeding profile than the VKAs, are still associated with serious bleeding. The anticoagulation induced by the VKAs can be reversed with both vitamin K and prothrombin complex concentrates, whereas the DOACs were developed without specific reversal agents. Although there is controversy around the necessity of a reversal agent, most clinicians agree that having a reversal agent for the DOACs would be beneficial. Three reversal agents are currently in development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, 500 Hofstra Blvd, Hempstead, NY 11549, USA. Electronic address: ansellje@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jack E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ansell
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D014812:Vitamin K; C025667:prothrombin complex concentrates
keywords: Adverse events; Anticoagulants; Antidotes; Bleeding; Direct oral anticoagulants; Hemorrhage; Idarucizumab; Reversal agents