Anticoagulant Therapy in Atrial Fibrillation – Time for a Change?

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 57
Author(s):  
Raffaele De Caterina ◽  
Giulia Renda ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Dabigatran Etexilate ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Therapeutic Window ◽  
Randomized Evaluation ◽  
New Anticoagulants

Although to date warfarin and other vitamin K antagonists have clearly had the greatest efficacy among commonly available treatments in preventing stroke in atrial fibrillation, their use is associated with a substantial risk of major bleeding and is impractical because of their narrow therapeutic window, their interaction with drugs and foods and the need for frequent coagulation monitoring. Several new anticoagulants are undergoing phase III clinical trials in atrial fibrillation with the aim of demonstrating non-inferiority compared with vitamin K antagonists or superiority compared with aspirin in patients in whom vitamin K antagonists are contraindicated or not tolerated. In the recently released Randomized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy (RE-LY) trial, the first such drug, dabigatran etexilate, was proved substantially equivalent to 2–3 international normalised ratio (INR)-adjusted warfarin at the dosage of 110mg twice a day (BID), with superior efficacy at a dosage of 150mg BID. With these new drugs, cardiologists and internists are witnessing a real revolution in the thromboprophylaxis in atrial fibrillation.

New Drugs for Thromboembolic Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 64
Author(s):  
Jose L Merino ◽  
Jose López-Sendón ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Coagulation Factor ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Bleeding Events ◽  
Risk Patients

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent sustained arrhythmia and its prevalence is increasing in developed countries. This progressive increase and the negative impact of this arrhythmia on the patient’s prognosis make AF one of the main healthcare problems faced today. This has led to intense research into the main aspects of AF, one of them being thromboembolism prevention. AF patients have a four to five times higher risk of stroke than the general population. Several factors increase thromboembolic risk in patients with AF and the use of risk scores, such as the Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age Greater than 75, Diabetes, and Prior Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (CHADS2), have been used to identify the best candidates for anticoagulation. Antithrombotic drugs are the mainstay of therapy for embolic prevention. The clinical use of these drugs is based on the risk–benefit ratio, where benefit is the reduction of stroke and systemic embolic events and risk is mostly driven by the increase in bleeding events. Generally, antiplatelets are indicated for low-risk patients in light of the fact anticoagulants are the drug of choice for moderate- or high-risk patients. Vitamin K antagonists have been the only option for oral anticoagulation for the last 50 years. However, these drugs have many pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic problems. The problems of anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists have led to the investigation of new drugs that can be administered orally and have a better dose–response relationship, a shorter half-life and, in particular, higher efficacy and safety without the need for frequent anticoagulation controls. The drugs that have been studied most thoroughly in patients with AF are inhibitors of the activated coagulation factor X and inhibitors of coagulation factor II (thrombin), including ximelagatran and dabigatran. In addition, non-pharmacological therapies have been developed to prevent recurrent embolism in certain patient populations.

scholarly journals Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation Cardioversion: What Is Crucial to Take into Account

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 3212
Author(s):  
Fabiana Lucà ◽  
Simona Giubilato ◽  
Stefania Angela Di Fusco ◽  
Laura Piccioni ◽  
Carmelo Massimiliano Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Significant Advance ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Thromboembolic Risk ◽  
Pharmacological Cardioversion

The therapeutic dilemma between rhythm and rate control in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) is still unresolved and electrical or pharmacological cardioversion (CV) frequently represents a useful strategy. The most recent guidelines recommend anticoagulation according to individual thromboembolic risk. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been routinely used to prevent thromboembolic events. Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) represent a significant advance due to their more predictable therapeutic effect and more favorable hemorrhagic risk profile. In hemodynamically unstable patients, an emergency electrical cardioversion (ECV) must be performed. In this situation, intravenous heparin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) should be administered before CV. In patients with AF occurring within less than 48 h, synchronized direct ECV should be the elective procedure, as it restores sinus rhythm quicker and more successfully than pharmacological cardioversion (PCV) and is associated with shorter length of hospitalization. Patients with acute onset AF were traditionally considered at lower risk of thromboembolic events due to the shorter time for atrial thrombus formation. In patients with hemodynamic stability and AF for more than 48 h, an ECV should be planned after at least 3 weeks of anticoagulation therapy. Alternatively, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to rule out left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) should be performed, followed by ECV and anticoagulation for at least 4 weeks. Theoretically, the standardized use of TEE before CV allows a better stratification of thromboembolic risk, although data available to date are not univocal.

The NOACs: clinical pharmacology

ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 268-272
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Weitz
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Active Site ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Factor Xa ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonist ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
High Affinity

The limitations of vitamin K antagonists prompted the development of new oral anticoagulants that could be administered in fixed doses without routine coagulation monitoring. Focusing on thrombin and factor Xa because of their prominent roles in coagulation, structure-based design led to the development of small molecules that bind to the active site pockets of these enzymes with high affinity and specificity. Four non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are now licensed: dabigatran, which inhibits thrombin, and rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, which inhibit factor Xa. In phase III randomized clinical trials that included over 100,000 patients these agents have proven to be at least as effective as vitamin K antagonists for prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for treatment of venous thromboembolism, and to produce less bleeding, particularly less intracranial bleeding.

RE-COVERY DVT/PE: Rationale and design of a prospective observational study of acute venous thromboembolism with a focus on dabigatran etexilate

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (02) ◽  
pp. 415-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Ageno ◽  
Ivan B. Casella ◽  
Chee Kok Han ◽  
Gary E. Raskob ◽  
Sebastian Schellong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Venous Thromboembolism ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Dabigatran Etexilate ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
Phase Iii Studies

SummaryThe therapeutic management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is rapidly evolving. Following the positive results of pivotal large-scale randomised trials, the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) represent an important alternative to standard anticoagulation. In phase III studies, dabigatran was as effective as, and significantly safer than warfarin. Additional information on real-world data of dabigatran is now warranted. RE-COVERY DVT/PE is a multi-centre, international, observational (i. e. non-interventional) study enrolling patients with acute DVT and/or PE within 30 days after objective diagnosis. The study is designed with two phases. Phase 1 has a cross-sectional design, enrolling approximately 6000 patients independently of treatment choice, with the aim of providing a contemporary picture of the management of VTE worldwide. Phase 2 has a prospective cohort design, with follow-up of one year, enrolling 8000 patients treated with dabigatran or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) with the aim of comparing their safety, defined by the occurrence of major bleeding, and effectiveness, defined by the occurrence of symptomatic recurrent VTE. RE-COVERY DVT/PE will complement both the results of other observational studies in this field and the results of phase III studies with dabigatran, in particular by assessing its clinical benefit in various patient subgroups treated in routine clinical practice.

scholarly journals Ten years of non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: is warfarin obsolete?

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_O) ◽  
pp. O28-O41
Author(s):  
Matthias Hammwöhner ◽  
Andreas Goette
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Clinical Data ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Specific Patient

Abstract Currently, four non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are available for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). These have been in clinical use for up to 10 years now. Besides data of the initial phase III clinical trials, now clinical data, several sub-studies, meta-analyses, and studies in special clinical settings and specific patient populations are available. This review shall give an overview on the history of NOAC development, sum up study data and ‘real-world’ clinical data as well as discuss several special clinical settings like NOAC treatment in patients that require coronary artery stenting or cardioversion (CV). Furthermore, treatment considerations in special patient populations like patients with renal impairment, obesity, or patients requiring NOACs for secondary prevention are discussed. The significance of NOAC treatment will be discussed under consideration of the recently published 2020 ESC/EACTS Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of AF.

Antikoagulation bei Vorhofflimmern

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (01) ◽  
pp. 37-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bode ◽  
M. Moser
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Bleeding Risk ◽  
Coagulation Factors ◽  
Additional Risk ◽  
New Anticoagulants ◽  
Therapeutic Anticoagulation ◽  
Impaired Quality

SummaryAtrial fibrillation is one of the most frequent reasons for therapeutic anticoagulation in everyday practice. Oral vitamin K antagonists such as Marcumar have been state of the art anticoagulants to prevent thrombembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and additional risk factors. But these drugs are accompanied by disadvantages such as increased bleeding risk and impaired quality of life caused by interactions with food or other medications as well as frequent controls of INRs.The new anticoagulants apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran are direct antagonists of coagulation factors (FXa or FIIa) and demonstrate a promising risk/benefit profile in large clinical trials compared with vitamin K antagonists.Their approval for clinical use will open up new therapeutic perspectives for patients with atrial fibrillation and indication for anticoagulation.

scholarly journals 2021 Korean Heart Rhythm Society Guidelines for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-311
Author(s):  
Ki Hong Lee ◽  
Jin-Bae Kim ◽  
Seung Yong Shin ◽  
Boyoung Joung
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Anticoagulation Therapy ◽  
Optimal Strategies ◽  
Mechanical Valve ◽  
Heart Rhythm ◽  
Bleeding Risk

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a strong risk factor for ischemic stroke and systemic embolism. To prevent thromboembolic events in patients with AF, anticoagulation therapy is essential. The anticoagulant strategy is determined after stroke and bleeding risk assessments using the CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores, respectively; both consider clinical risk factors. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are the sole anticoagulant option in AF patients with a prosthetic mechanical valve or moderate-severe mitral stenosis; in all other AF patients VKA or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are therapeutic options. However, antiplatelet therapy should not be used for stroke prevention in AF patients. Anticoagulation is not needed in AF patients with low stroke risk but strongly recommended in those with a with low bleeding risk. Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion offers an alternative in AF patients in whom long-term anticoagulation is contraindicated. Surgical occlusion or the exclusion of LAA can be considered for stroke prevention in AF patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In this article, we review existing data for stroke prevention and suggest optimal strategies to prevent stroke in AF patients.

Pattern and Management of Intracranial Haemorrhage with Rivaroxaban or Dabigatran Compared to Vitamin K Antagonists - Results of the Prospective Dresden Noac Registry

Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 1127-1127
Author(s):  
Sandra Marten ◽  
Luise Tittl ◽  
Katharina Daschkow ◽  
Jan Beyer-Westendorf
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Vitamin K ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Intracranial Haemorrhage ◽  
Vitamin K Antagonists ◽  
Bleeding Risk ◽  
Interventional Therapy ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Bayer Healthcare ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

Abstract Background: In recent phase-III trials, the rate of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) - the most feared complication of anticoagulant therapy - was around 0.8% per year for patients treated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and consistently lower (around 0.3-0.5%) for patients treated with the non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) rivaroxaban and dabigatran However, patients in clinical trials present a selected population treated under a strict protocol in dedicated academic facilities. Consequently, the risk, management and outcome of ICH need to be evaluated in cohorts of patients treated with NOACs or VKA in daily care. Aim: To evaluate the rate of ICH in patients treated with NOAC compared to VKA patients. Patients and methods: The prospective NOAC registry was initiated in November 2011. A network of more than 230 physicians in the district of Saxony, Germany, enrol up to 3000 patients in the registry, which are prospectively followed by the central registry office for up to 60 months with central outcome event adjudication. For this analysis, every intracranial haemorrhage was identified in the database and ICH management and outcome were evaluated. Results: Until January 31th 2015, 2682 patients were registered and treated with dabigatran (348, mostly treated for atrial fibrillation), Rivaroxaban (1907; 1204 treated for atrial fibrillation and 703 for venous thromboembolism) or vitamin K antagonists (427; treated for atrial fibrillation). VKA patients had lower HAS-BLED scores compared to NOAC patients and were excellently managed with a time-in-therapeutic-range of 75%. During follow-up (mean follow-up duration 25.6 months) ICH occurred in 7/427(1.6%) of VKA treated patients and in 14/2255 (0.6%) of patients treated with NOAC, which translated into an annualized rate of 1.3 events/100 pt. years (95%-CI 0.5-2.7) for VKA and 0.4 events/100 pt. years (95%-CI 0.2-0.6) for NOAC (p=0.0039). Treatment of ICH consisted of PCC in 10 cases, plasma in 3 cases and surgical or interventional therapy in 7 cases (table 1, multiple treatments possible). As indicated, use of factor concentrates, plasma or other hemostatic agents or surgery was much more frequent in VKA patients compared to NOAC patients. Table 1. Cause and treatment of ICH ICH/total Spontaneous vs. traumatic ICH (n) treatment with PCC treatment with fresh frozen plasma treatment with other hemostatic agents no hemostatic treatment surgical or interventional therapy dabigatran 2/348 (0.6%) 2 vs. 0 0 0 0 2/2 (100%) 1/2 (50%) rivaroxaban 12/1907 (0.6%) 4 vs. 8 5/12 (41.7%) 2/12 (16.7%) 2/12 (16.7%) 7/12 (58.3%) 3/12 (25%) VKA 7/427 (1.6%) 2 vs. 5 5/7 (71.4%) 1/7 (14.3%) 4/7 (57.1%) 2/7 (28.6%) 3/7 (42.9%) At Day 90 after ICH, 7/21 patients were dead (2/7 or 28.6% of VKA patients and 5/14 or 35.7% of NOAC patients). The surviving 14 patients received the following antithrombotic agents: 5 (35.7%) rivaroxaban, 3 (21.4%) heparin, 1 (7.1%) apixaban, 1 (7.1%) VKA, 3 (21.4%) aspirin, 1 (7.1%) none.Following ICH, oral anticoagulation therapy was either interrupted (n=7; 6 NOAC vs. 1 VKA) or permanently discontinued (n=10; 6 NOAC vs. 4 VKA). Conclusion: Despite low bleeding risk and excellent INR control in our VKA cohort, the rate of ICH was higher than that of VKA patients treated in recent phase-III trials. Furthermore, ICH rates in our VKA cohort were significantly higher than those seen in our NOAC cohorts, which represented more patients with relevant comorbidities and higher bleeding risk. Consequently, the risk of ICH remains high even in "stable" VKA patients with good INR control and a preventive switch from VKA to NOAC may help to reduce ICH risk and should be discussed with the patient. Disclosures Marten: Bayer HealthCare: Honoraria. Beyer-Westendorf:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer HealthCare: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document