Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
Oral anticoagulant therapy in patients with coronary artery disease
Daniel G Hackam1, Sonia S Anand, Salim Yusuf
1Department of MedicineMcMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
Oral anticoagulation (OA) has been used to treat patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) for more than 40 years and has been a subject of intense controversy since that time. Seven to 10% of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) develop recurrent MI, stroke, or death in the 6 weeks following the index event and approximately 20% after 4 years, despite optimal background therapy with aspirin. Recent large studies and systematic reviews have greatly clarified the role of OA in the modern era. On the weight of the evidence, which is reviewed in detail in this article, long-term, moderate-intensity OA (International Normalized Ratio 2.0 to 3.0) should be considered an option for the prevention of recurrent CAD, particularly in high-risk patients.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants
Warfarin, a prominent vitamin K antagonist family member, exerts its effect by inhibiting the enzyme VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex 1). By hindering this enzyme, warfarin...
Coronary Artery Disease V: Interprofessional Care
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Acute Coronary Syndrome IV: Interprofessional Care
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
