Gastrointestinal Bleeding With Oral Anticoagulation: Understanding the Scope of the Problem

Systemic anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists or direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) remains the mainstay of therapy to attenuate the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Given more predictable pharmacology, use of fixed-dose regimens, and lack of need for routine drug monitoring, DOACs have enjoyed relatively high uptake and quickly have become integrated into clinical practice.1 Although these agents generally have a favorable index of safety in comparison with warfarin with a lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage, rates of major gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding appear to be higher with at least some DOAC regimens based on data from landmark clinical trials.

Source: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology - January 13, 2017 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Muthiah Vaduganathan, Deepak L. Bhatt Tags: Editorial Source Type: research