Outcomes of Discontinuing Rivaroxaban Compared With Warfarin in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: Analysis From the ROCKET AF Trial (Rivaroxaban Once-Daily, Oral, Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared With Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation)

Conclusions:
In atrial fibrillation patients who temporarily or permanently discontinued anticoagulation, the risk of stroke or non-CNS embolism was similar with rivaroxaban or warfarin. An increased risk of stroke and non-CNS embolism was observed in rivaroxaban-treated patients compared with warfarin-treated patients after the end of the study, underscoring the importance of therapeutic anticoagulation coverage during such a transition.

Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology - February 6, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Manesh R. Patel, Anne S. Hellkamp, Yuliya Lokhnygina, Jonathan P. Piccini, Zhongxin Zhang, Surya Mohanty, Daniel E. Singer, Werner Hacke, Günter Breithardt, Jonathan L. Halperin, Graeme J. Hankey, Richard C. Becker, Christopher C. Nessel, Scott D. Berkow Tags: Heart Rhythm Disorders Source Type: research