Questions and answers on the use of dabigatran and perpectives on the use of other new oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Summary

Dabigatran and other new oral anticoagulants (OAC) represent a step forward in stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). They indeed have been shown to be an alternative to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) without the burden of laboratory control. However, these new drugs compete with an effective and well-established therapy, thus bringing about a series of questions and doubts. In this report members of the board of the Italian Federation of Thrombosis Centers (FCSA) answer some questions every clinician might be confronted with.

Keywords

Clinical trials - oral anticoagulants - heart - prevention

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