Anticoagulation strategies for venous thromboembolism: moving towards a personalised approach

Summary

Four non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have now been evaluated in clinical trials, providing new therapeutic options for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Recent position statements call for a move towards tailored recommendations for the treatment of VTE, to better define in whom and under what conditions a particular anticoagulant may improve clinical outcomes. Here we review the phase III data on NOAC trials for the treatment of VTE, assessing the favourability of agents for particular patient subgroups and aetiologies. Where the data permit, individualised risks of recurrent VTE events and bleeding are presented.

Keywords

Deep-vein thrombosis - pulmonary embolism - venous thrombosis - clinical trials - oral anticoagulants

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