An evidence-based review of apixaban and its potential in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

ABSTRACT: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia, especially in the elderly population. It is associated with cardioembolic complications, particularly strokes, resulting in severe functional deficit or death. AF patients are first stratified into low, intermediate, and high risk for thromboembolic events using the CHADS(2) and CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score systems. Depending on their risks, patients are treated with either therapeutic anticoagulation with warfarin or acetylsalicylic acid for stroke prevention. Although warfarin is the recommended therapy, it is underutilized clinically due to concern for narrow therapeutic window, drug-to-drug and drug-to-food interactions, and hemorrhagic complications. Newer anticoagulant agents such as dabigatran (a direct thrombin inhibitor) and rivar

SUBMITTER: Deedwania P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3402013 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature