Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

New agents to prevent strokes in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

David Putney, Craig Pratt

    Methodist Debakey Cardiovascular Journal
    |December 11, 2012
    PubMed

    Insights

    Warfarin has long been the standard for atrial fibrillation anticoagulation. New drugs like dabigatran and rivaroxaban offer alternatives, requiring careful patient selection for stroke prevention.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Pharmacology
    • Internal Medicine

    Background:

    • Warfarin has been the primary anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation (AF) for three decades.
    • Recent FDA approvals introduce novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) as alternatives.
    • Nonvalvular AF stroke prevention is evolving with new therapeutic options.

    Discussion:

    • Selection of the optimal anticoagulant requires careful consideration of multiple patient-specific factors.
    • Clinical trial data are crucial for guiding decisions on warfarin alternatives.
    • Understanding the efficacy and safety profiles of new agents is paramount.

    Key Insights:

    • Dabigatran and rivaroxaban are now available FDA-approved anticoagulants for AF.
    • Apixaban is anticipated to receive FDA approval, further expanding treatment options.
    • Evidence from pivotal trials informs the choice between warfarin and newer agents.

    Outlook:

    • The landscape of AF anticoagulation is shifting towards newer agents.
    • Personalized medicine approaches will likely guide anticoagulant selection in AF.
    • Ongoing research will continue to refine treatment strategies for stroke prevention in AF.

    Keywords:
    anticoagulationapixabandabigatrannonvalvular atrial fibrillationrivaroxaban

    More Related Videos

    Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation28:13

    Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

    Published on: February 26, 2013

    Non-fluoroscopic Catheter Tracking for Fluoroscopy Reduction in Interventional Electrophysiology10:46

    Non-fluoroscopic Catheter Tracking for Fluoroscopy Reduction in Interventional Electrophysiology

    Published on: May 26, 2015

    Related Concept Videos

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers01:22

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

    Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
    Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers01:12

    Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

    Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...
    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...
    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...
    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...
    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...