Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Rapid Point-of-Care Assay of Enoxaparin Anticoagulant Efficacy in Whole Blood
11:17

Rapid Point-of-Care Assay of Enoxaparin Anticoagulant Efficacy in Whole Blood

Published on: October 12, 2012

New oral anticoagulants: not quite there yet

Ganesan Karthikeyan1, John W Eikelboom, Jack Hirsh

  • 1Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. karthik2010@gmail.com

Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnetrznej
|April 4, 2009
PubMed

Insights

New oral anticoagulants, including factor Xa and thrombin inhibitors, show promise for preventing venous thromboembolism. This review balances their benefits and drawbacks for future clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Hematology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant clinical challenge.
  • Existing anticoagulant therapies have limitations.
  • Recent advancements have introduced novel oral anticoagulants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and compare new oral anticoagulants for VTE prevention.
  • To provide a balanced perspective on their clinical utility.
  • To speculate on the future role of these agents.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 3 large randomized trials of activated factor Xa inhibitors.
  • Review of recent trial data for orally active thrombin inhibitors.
  • Synthesis of findings to compare merits and demerits.

Main Results:

  • Activated factor Xa inhibitors demonstrated efficacy in VTE prevention.
  • Orally active thrombin inhibitors also showed relevant clinical data.
  • Both classes represent significant advancements in oral anticoagulation.

Conclusions:

  • New oral anticoagulants offer a promising alternative for VTE prophylaxis.
  • Careful consideration of benefits and risks is necessary for optimal patient selection.
  • These agents are poised to reshape the landscape of anticoagulant therapy.

More Related Videos

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants01:18

Anticoagulant Drugs: Vitamin K Antagonists and Direct Oral Anticoagulants

Oral anticoagulants are vital tools in preventing and treating blood clotting disorders. This diverse class of medications can be categorized as vitamin K antagonists, exemplified by warfarin, and direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs), such as dabigatran, as well as factor Xa inhibitors, including rivaroxaban.
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...
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care01:29

Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

Venous thrombosis requires effective prevention and treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce potential complications.Prevention StrategiesHealthcare providers must prioritize preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) for all adult patients upon admission. Interventions depend on bleeding and thrombosis risk, medical history, current medications, diagnoses, planned procedures, and patient preferences. Patients on bed rest should change positions every two hours and, if not...
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors01:20

Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors

Antiplatelet drugs emerge as frontline defenders against the insidious threat of thromboembolic diseases, where abnormal clots obstruct vital blood vessels. These drugs stand as bulwarks, inhibiting platelet aggregation and clot formation, thereby mitigating the risk of life-threatening conditions like myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and thrombotic strokes.
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers01:20

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers

Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers01:24

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...