[Antithrombotic management in atrial fibrillation]

There is increasing recognition of the value of oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), and the availability of new oral anticoagulants that overcome the limitations of vitamin K antagonists (VKA). Stroke risk assessment using the CHA2DS2-Vasc score allows identification of patients who are at truly low risk (score = 0) who should need no antithrombotic therapy, while all others (CHA2DS2-Vasc score > or = 1 with a risk of thromboembolic event > 1% per year) would be considered for oral anticoagulation. The HAS-BLED score has been recently proposed to easily assess bleeding risk in AF patients. A score of > or = 3 indicates "high risk" and some caution and regular review of the patient are needed. It also makes the clinician think of correctable common bleeding risk factors. The direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran and factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban and apixaban are new oral anticoagulants that are at least as efficacious and safe as VKA in non valvular AF. Their advantages are easier use, predictable anticoagulant effects, low propensity for food and drug interactions, and lower rates of intracranial bleeding than with VKA, but they should not be used in patients with kidney disease at the present time. Overall, one may expect that more AF patients will be appropriately treated with oral anticoagulation in the next years.