Novel oral anticoagulants

摘要

It is becoming increasingly common for GPs to manage patients who have been prescribed a relatively new class of medications, the 'novel oral anticoagulants' (NOACs). This article aims to give a general overview of NOACs, current indications for use and possible implications for future use. Warfarin Warfarin has been the recommended oral anticoagulant for the treatment and prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) and the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for several decades. As a vitamin K antagonist it reduces the synthesis of the vitamin K-dependent clotting factors II, VII, IX and X thereby increasing clotting time.