Dabigatran Unsuitable for Use with Mechanical Heart Valves

Dabigatran and other novel oral anticoagulants are effective and safe for reducing thromboembolic risk in the setting non-valvular AF.  However, it remains unclear whether these newer anticoagulants are as effective as warfarin for reducing thromboembolic complications among patients with mechanical heart valves.  As oral anticoagulation is a mainstay of therapy in patients with mechanical valves, […]

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Is anticoagulation safe in patients at risk of falls?

Oral anticoagulants have been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of, and mortality secondary to, embolic strokes associated with atrial fibrillation.  Despite this, oral anticoagulants are underprescribed with some estimates suggesting as few as 40% of eligible patients receive therapy.  The risk of falls is the most commonly cited reason for not providing oral anticoagulation, although […]

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