Anticoagulation for Venous Thromboembolism: Selecting the Optimal Parenteral and Oral Anticoagulant Regimen

  • Gregory Piazza
  • Benjamin Hohlfelder
  • Samuel Z. Goldhaber
Chapter

Abstract

Prompt therapeutic-level anticoagulation is the cornerstone of treatment for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Options for anticoagulation in VTE include unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, fondaparinux, argatroban, bivalirudin, warfarin, and the non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) rivaroxaban, dabigatran, apixaban, and edoxaban. The NOACs represent a major advance in anticoagulation for VTE with superior safety and equivalent efficacy compared with warfarin.

Keywords

Anticoagulation Heparin Low-molecular weight heparin NOACs Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants Warfarin 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gregory Piazza
    • 1
  • Benjamin Hohlfelder
    • 2
  • Samuel Z. Goldhaber
    • 3
  1. 1.Cardiovascular DivisionHarvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s HospitalBostonUSA
  2. 2.Department of Pharmacy ServicesBrigham and Women’s HospitalBostonUSA
  3. 3.Thrombosis Research GroupHarvard Medical School Brigham and Women’s HospitalBostonUSA

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