Pharmacology, benefits, unaddressed questions, and pragmatic issues of the newer oral anticoagulants for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation and proposal of a management algorithm

This systematic review aims to provide an update on pharmacology, efficacy and safety of the newer oral direct thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors, which have emerged for the first time in ~ 60 years as cogent alternatives to warfarin for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation. We also discuss on four of the most common clinical scenarios with several unsolved questions and areas of uncertainty that may play a role in physicians' reluctance to prescribe the newer oral anticoagulants such as 1) patients with renal failure; 2) the elderly; 3) patients presenting with atrial fibrillation and acute coronary syndromes and/or undergoing coronary stenting; and 4) patients planning to receive AF ablation with the use of pulmonary vein isolation. New aspects presented in current guidelines are covered and we also propose an evidence-based anticoagulation management algorithm.