Antithrombotic therapy for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and mechanical heart valves

Therapies Friday, February 10th, 2012

Wiley- Online Library: Abstract: Cardioembolic strokes account for one-sixth of all strokes and are an important potentially preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Vitamin K antagonists (e.g., warfarin) are effective for the prevention of cardioembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and in those with mechanical heart valves but because of their inherent limitations are underutilized and often suboptimally managed. Antiplatelet therapies have been the only alternatives to warfarin for stroke prevention in AF but although they are safer and more convenient they are much less efficacious. The advent of new oral anticoagulant drugs offers the potential to reduce the burden of cardioembolic stroke by providing access to effective, safe and more convenient therapies. Read Full Article

  1. DOI: 10.1002/ajh.23136
  2. John W. Eikelboom†,*,
  3. Robert G. Hart
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