Rivaroxaban in patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome event: integration of trial findings into clinical practice

• Published in: Vascular health and risk management Vol. 10; no. default; pp. 291 - 302
• Main Authors: Shivu, Ganesh Nallur, Ossei-Gerning, Nick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Zealand Dove Medical Press Limited 01.01.2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Dove Press; Dove Medical Press
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndrome; Acute Coronary Syndrome - drug therapy; Acute Coronary Syndrome - prevention & control; Acute coronary syndromes; Adenosine diphosphate; Angina pectoris; Anticoagulants; antiplatelet therapy; Aspirin; Atherosclerosis; Blood clots; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiology; Clinical medicine; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug therapy; Evidence-based medicine; Factor Xa Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Health risk assessment; Heart attacks; Hemoglobin; Hemorrhage - chemically induced; Hemorrhage - prevention & control; Humans; Morpholines - therapeutic use; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Review; Rivaroxaban; Secondary Prevention; Testing; Thiophenes - therapeutic use; Thromboembolism; Treatment Outcome; United Kingdom > UK; anticoagulants; acute coronary syndrome; antiplatelet therapy
• ISSN: 1178-2048; 1176-6344; 1178-2048
• DOI: 10.2147/VHRM.S59420

Despite significant advances in the management of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and long-term antiplatelet therapy after an ACS event, patients continue to be at risk of further cardiovascular events. There is evidence that recurrent events are at least partly attributed to the persistent activation of the coagulation system after ACS. Various anticoagulants, including vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) and non-VKA oral anticoagulants, have been evaluated in patients post-ACS, in combination with antiplatelet therapy. The desired outcome would be a further reduction of recurrent cardiovascular events with low or acceptable levels of bleeding complications. Here, we provide an overview of the current clinical trial data of non-VKA oral anticoagulants, focusing on rivaroxaban in particular, for secondary prevention in patients with a recent ACS event.