Warfarin use and long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation.

Warfarin use in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and atrial fibrillation (AF) remains challenging. We describe use of warfarin up to 1 year after hospitalization among patients with AMI and AF according to stroke and bleeding risk, and identify factors associated with long-term mortality in this population. Patients with AMI and AF who underwent cardiac catheterization during their AMI hospitalization in 1995-2007 were identified from the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease.

Safety profile and bleeding risk of ticagrelor compared with clopidogrel.

Introduction: Ticagrelor is a novel, non-thienopyridine ADP inhibitor that reversibly blocks the P2Y(12) receptor, preventing platelet activation and aggregation. It is the first ADP inhibitor to show a mortality benefit in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Its major safety concern, as with the other ADP blockers, is bleeding.