Oral anticoagulant therapy. Fundamentals, clinical practice and recommendations

Oral anticoagulant therapy remains one of the most frequent options for treatment and prevention in patients with arterial and venous thromboembolism. Clinical guidelines have been updated in recent years by various associations such as the American Heart Association (AHA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), as well as organizations in several other countries. The authors present a review of therapy with vitamin K antagonists, focusing on their mechanism of action and metabolism, as well as on the fundamentals of such therapy. Clinical recommendations for the most frequent indications are described. One of the most important issues is the use of these drugs for atrial fibrillation therapy, which is a common indication. Prosthetic valvular disease is a compelling indication for anticoagulation, for which there is a broad consensus. Ischemic heart disease is another indication described for oral anticoagulation. Several practical issues in cardiac patients are discussed. These include the appropriate initial dose, schemes for reversal of anticoagulation, and management of surgical patients. Finally, risk factors for deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are detailed in this review, presenting current clinical recommendations for oral anticoagulation of these patients.