Current challenges of anticoagulant treatment

Rom J Intern Med. 2007;45(3):221-7.

Abstract

Anticoagulant therapy plays an important role in current medical practice. The main types of anticoagulant agents are: heparins, hirudins and vitamin K antagonists. None of the drugs used as anticoagulants meet the criteria of an ideal anticoagulant because they have side effects and they interact with other compounds. The main side effect of anticoagulant therapy is bleeding. The choice of a certain anticoagulant is made by the doctor based on the clinical context and also on the desired effect.

MeSH terms

  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / pharmacology*
  • Azetidines / adverse effects
  • Azetidines / pharmacology
  • Benzylamines / adverse effects
  • Benzylamines / pharmacology
  • Fondaparinux
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Heparin / adverse effects
  • Heparin / pharmacology
  • Hirudins / adverse effects
  • Hirudins / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • International Normalized Ratio
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Thrombocytopenia / chemically induced
  • Vitamin K / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Warfarin / adverse effects
  • Warfarin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Azetidines
  • Benzylamines
  • Hirudins
  • Polysaccharides
  • Vitamin K
  • ximelagatran
  • Warfarin
  • Heparin
  • Fondaparinux