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An anticoagulant, commonly known as a blood thinner, is a chemical substance that prevents or reduces the coagulation of blood, prolonging the clotting time. [1] Some occur naturally in blood-eating animals, such as leeches and mosquitoes, which help keep the bite area unclotted long enough for the animal to obtain blood.
Warfarin is indicated for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous thrombosis and its extension, pulmonary embolism; [9] prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic complications associated with atrial fibrillation and/or cardiac valve replacement; [9] and reduction in the risk of death, recurrent myocardial infarction, and thromboembolic events such as stroke or systemic embolization after ...
An antithrombotic agent is a drug that reduces the formation of blood clots (). [1] [2] Antithrombotics can be used therapeutically for prevention (primary prevention, secondary prevention) or treatment of a dangerous blood clot (acute thrombus).
Rivaroxaban, sold under the brand name Xarelto among others, is an anticoagulant medication (blood thinner) used to treat and prevent blood clots. [8] Specifically it is used to treat deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli and prevent blood clots in atrial fibrillation and following hip or knee surgery. [8]
Side effects may include bleeding, most commonly from the nose, gastrointestinal tract (GI) or genitourinary system. [2] Compared to the risk of bleeding with warfarin use, direct factor Xa inhibitors have a higher risk of GI bleeding, but lower risk of bleeding in the brain. [2]
The use of LMWH has allowed once-daily dosing, thus not requiring a continuous infusion of the drug. If long-term anticoagulation is required, heparin is often used only to commence anticoagulation therapy until an oral anticoagulant e.g. warfarin takes effect. The American College of Chest Physicians publishes clinical guidelines on heparin ...
Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is an alternative therapy to oral anticoagulation in a certain subset of patients with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is characterized by an irregular and uncoordinated pumping function of the atria.
The term "vitamin K antagonist" is technically a misnomer, as the drugs do not directly antagonize the action of vitamin K in the pharmacological sense, but rather the recycling of vitamin K. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) have been the mainstay of anticoagulation therapy for more than 50 years.