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Antithrombotic therapies in patients with prosthetic heart valves: guidelines translated for the clinician

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Abstract

Patients with prosthetic heart valves require chronic oral anticoagulation. In this clinical scenario, physicians must be mindful of the thromboembolic and bleeding risks related to chronic anticoagulant therapy. Currently, only vitamin K antagonists are approved for this indication. This paper reviews the main heart valve guidelines focusing on the use of oral anticoagulation in these patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Tiago L. L. Leiria & Renato A. K. Kalil

  2. Duke Clinical Research Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3850, Durham, NC, 27710, UK

    Renato D. Lopes & John H. Alexander

  3. Duke Clinical Research Institute, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, UK

    Judson B. Williams

  4. Division of Cardiology & Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina Center for Heart and Vascular Care, Chapel Hill, NC, UK

    Jason N. Katz

  5. Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil

    Renato A. K. Kalil

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  1. Tiago L. L. Leiria
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  2. Renato D. Lopes
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Correspondence to John H. Alexander.

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Leiria, T.L.L., Lopes, R.D., Williams, J.B. et al. Antithrombotic therapies in patients with prosthetic heart valves: guidelines translated for the clinician. J Thromb Thrombolysis 31, 514–522 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11239-011-0574-9

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