Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026

Assessment of the Anticoagulant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Endothelial Cells Using 3D Cell Culture and Non-anticoagulated Whole Blood
Published on: September 5, 2017
[Anticoagulation. Modern concepts]
1Klinik für Kardiologie/Westdeutsches Herzzentrum, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 52, 45147, Essen, Deutschland. mareike.perrey@uk-essen.de
Abstract:
An effective oral anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists is currently a successfully used standard therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) yielding a 60-70% relative reduction in stroke risk compared with placebo, when an international normalized ratio (INR) value between 2.0 and 3.0 is maintained. However, these agents have a number of well documented shortcomings which partially result in a reduced compliance as well as an insufficient INR adjustment. A number of new drugs for oral anticoagulation including direct factor Xa inhibitors, such as rivaroxaban and direct thrombin inhibitors, such as dabigatran have shown promising results, including higher efficacy and significantly lower incidences of intracranial bleeding compared with warfarin. The new substances show similar results in secondary as well as in primary stroke prevention in patients with AF and therefore offer a number of advantages over warfarin, including a favorable bleeding profile and convenience of use. Consideration of these new anticoagulants might be a good option.
Related Concept Videos
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
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...
Venous Thrombosis IV: Nursing Management
Antiplatelet Drugs: Prostaglandin Synthesis, P2Y12 and Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Inhibitors
Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors, exemplified by the widely known aspirin, wield their power by irreversibly acetylating...
Venous Thrombosis I: Introduction
