Anticoagulation therapy in the elderly
Authors:
J. Chlumský
Published in:
Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2016, 5, č. 4: 217-222
Category:
Review Article
Overview
Elderly population is at a high thromboembolic risk, but also at a high haemorrhagic risk. In order to maximise the safety of anticoagulation in the elderly, some specific considerations need to be taken into account, including renal insufficiency, modified pharmacodynamics of anticoagulants, especially vitamin K antagonists, and the presence of multiple comorbidities and concomitant medications. Warfarin is still the most common drug used for clotting disorders but its use is complicated owing to wide inter-individual variability in dose requirement and its narrow therapeutic index. New anticoagulants are very promising class of drugs, which are gradually replacing warfarin therapy. So far, this treatment is limited to certain groups of specialists. Currently, dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban is indicated in patients with atrial fibrillation, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.
KEYWORDS:
anticoagulation therapy – warfarin – dabigatran – rivaroxaban – apixaban – edoxaban
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Geriatrics General practitioner for adults Orthopaedic prostheticsArticle was published in
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