Factor Xa inhibitors

This study involving about seven thousand four hundred patients, was terminated prematurely due to higher bleeding risks at a dose of 5 mg twice daily and there was no siginificant reduction of ischemic events. It may be noted that the drug was added over and above standard antiplatelet therapy in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. AVERROES (Apixaban Versus Acetylsalicylic Acid [ASA] to Prevent Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation Patients Who Have Failed or Are Unsuitable for Vitamin K Antagonist Treatment) study on the other hand compared the use of same dose of apixaban with varying doses of aspirin (81 to 325 mg).5 In this study, apixaban reduced the chance of stroke or systemic embolism without increasing major bleeding or intracranial hemorrhage. These were patients with atrial fibrillation who were not candidates for warfarin therapy and hence the results are commendable. References Mega JL, Braunwald E, Mohanavelu S, Burton P, Poulter R, Misselwitz F, Hricak V, Barnathan ES, Bordes P, Witkowski A, Markov V, Oppenheimer L, Gibson CM: Rivaroxaban versus placebo in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ATLAS ACS TIMI 46): a randomised, double-blind, phase II trial. Lancet 2009;374:29-38. Mega JL, Braunwald E, Wiviott SD, Bassand JP, Bhatt DL, Bode C, Burton P, Cohen M, Cook-Bruns N, Fox KA, Goto S, Murphy SA, Plotnikov AN, Schneider D, Sun X, Verheugt FW, Gibson CM; ATLAS ACS 2–TIMI 51 Investigators. Rivaroxaban in patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome. N En...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs