Anticoagulants in Coronary Artery Disease

Anticoagulant therapy for acute coronary syndromes is becoming more complex as newer agents are added to unfractionated heparin and warfarin. The anticoagulants used in current clinical practice are low molecular weight heparins, direct thrombin inhibitors, and heparinoids. Properties of and recent clinical trial data regarding these newer anticoagulants are reviewed in reference to current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines.