Abstract
Warfarin therapy is the cornerstone in the prevention of thromboembolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. It reduces the risk of stroke by two thirds in comparison with no anticoagulation. 1 A weak alternative to warfarin is aspirin, which is also effective over placebo in the prevention of stroke in atrial fibrillation. 1 Aspirin is safer than warfarin in general use. The incidence of atrial fibrillation sharply increases with age, but also the risk of bleeding from warfarin shows the same pattern.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lip GY, Hart RG, Conway DS. Antithrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation. BMJ 2002 325:1022-5.
De Caterina R, Husted S, Wallentin, L, et al. Anticoagulants in heart disease: current status and perspectives. Eur Heart J 2007;28:880-913.
Hellemons BSP, Langenberg M, Lodder J, et al. Primary prevention of arterial thromboembolism in non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation in primary care: randomised controlled trial comparing two intensities of coumarin with aspirin. BMJ 1999;319:175-8.
Garcia D, Hylek E. Stroke prevention in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation. Lancet 2007;370:460-1.
Mant J, Hobbs R, Fletcher K, et al. Warfarin versus aspirin for stroke prevention in an elderly community population with atrial fibrillation (the Birmingham Atrial Fibrillation Treatment of the Aged Study, BAFTA): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2007; 370:493-503.
Wysowski DK, Nourjah P, Swartz L. Bleeding complications with warfarin use: a prevalent adverse effect resulting in regulatory action. Arch Intern Med 2007;167:1414-9.
SPORTIF-III Investigators. Ximelagatran versus warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (SPORTIF-III): randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2003;362: 1691-8.
Albers GW, Diener HC, Frison L, et al. Ximelagatran vs warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a randomized trial. JAMA 2005;293:690-8.
Agnelli G, Gallus A, Goldhaber SZ, et al. Treatment of proximal deep-vein thrombosis with the oral direct factor Xa inhibitor rivaroxaban (BAY 59-7939): the ODIXa-DVT (Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibitor BAY 59-7939 in Patients With Acute Symptomatic Deep-Vein Thrombosis) study. Circulation 2007;116:180-7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Department of Cardiology, Heart Lung Centre, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Correspondence to: F.W.A. Verheugt 670 Cardiology, Heart Lung Centre, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Verheugt, F.W.A. Also the very elderly benefit from warfarin in atrial fibrillation. NHJL 15, 403–404 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03086039
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03086039