Direct oral anticoagulants have emerged as the drugs that have changed the management of the antithrombotic treatment in the last 15 years. Their advantages, like a more friendly way of anticoagulation and their lower risk of bleeding, especially in the brain, have positioned these new anticoagulants as the first drug of choice in the two most frequent indications of anticoagulation, atrial fibrillation, and the venous thromboembolic disease. However, not all the patients can receive these agents, not all the direct oral anticoagulants have the same characteristics, and most importantly, not all the diseases with an indication of an anticoagulant drug can be treated with them.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreating an anticoagulated patient with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) remains a challenge, especially in areas where dicoumarins are still the first drug of choice due to the cost of other oral anticoagulants. Anticoagulation clinics have proven to be the most efficient and safe way to avoid thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications and to keep patients in optimal treatment range. However, they require adequate infrastructure and trained personnel to work properly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Cardiovasc Ther
December 2009
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an acquired autoimmune disorder characterized by venous or arterial thrombosis, and recurrent pregnancy morbidity in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Many physicians recommend a daily low dose of aspirin for primary thrombosis prevention in asymptomatic individuals with persistent antiphospholipid antibodies. However, recent data question the effectiveness of aspirin.
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