Novel anticoagulants in the therapy of peripheral arterial and coronary artery disease

► Peripheral and coronary artery disease has a high ischemic event rate despite antiplatelet therapy. ► Antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents inhibit different pathways of the coagulation pathway. ► Combination of antiplatelet agents with novel oral Factor II or Factor X inhibitors may reduce ischemic events. ► Combined antithrombotic therapy must carefully be tested for antithrombotic benefits and bleeding risk.