Anticoagulation treatment

Anticoagulant therapy using heparins and vitamin K antagonists has been used effectively for prevention and treatment of thromboembolic events for many years. However, therapy is associated with a significant risk of haemorrhagic complications warranting careful consideration of the need for anticoagulation. Recognized drawbacks of current anticoagulants are their unpredictable pharmacokinetics and the need for laboratory monitoring, which have led in recent years to the development of new oral anticoagulant agents.