Patients with impaired renal function are exposed to an increased risk for bleeding complications depending on the amount of the anticoagulant eliminated by the kidneys. The elimination of unfractionated heparins, vitamin K antagonists and argatroban is only minimally influenced by a reduced renal function. Low-molecular weight heparins, fondaparinux, danaparoid, hirudins and nonvitamin K antag...

Atrial fibrillation is the most common and important cardiac rhythm disorder, which increases the risk of stroke and mortality. New oral anticoagulants are an alternative for vitamin K antagonists to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. New oral anticoagulants do not require routine monitoring of coagulation. However, the quantitative assessment of the anticoagulant...

Warfarin has been the primary anticoagulant drug used in the USA for more than 50 years. However, 2 novel types of oral anticoagulants have recently been approved for use in the USA. These are direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g., dabigatran etexilate) and factor Xa inhibitors (e.g., rivaroxaban). Dental health care providers may soon encounter patients who are being prescribed these medications. T...