Bioprosthetic valves and atrial fibrillation: Direct anticoagulants or warfarin

[摘要] Feature Editor's Introduction—Warfarin was first developed in the 1940s as rat poison and was clinically first used in the 1950s in humans as an anticoagulant. Since then, we have been in search of a suitable alternative that can offer our patients a more reliable and predictable physiologic effect, as well as less disruption in their day-to-day life. It was not until 2010 that dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, Conn) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but was not approved for use in patients with valvular heart disease.

[学科分类] 心脏病和心血管学

[关键词] anticoagulation;antithrombotic;coagulation cascade;stroke prevention;TAVR