For patients with the heart rhythm disorder K atrial fibrillation, a new anti-clotting drug called Pradaxa (dabigatran) can be used as an alternative to warfarin, according to updated guidelines released recently.
Background
About two million Americans have atrial fibrillation, in which the heart's two upper chambers beat erratically, causing uneven and inefficient pumping of blood. As a result, blood can pool and clot in the chambers, raising the risk of stroke or heart attack. Since the 1950s, such patients have been prescribed warfarin, but the drug requires regular testing and dosage adjustments.
Prevention
The updated guidelines, issued by the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and the Heart Rhythm Society, say that Pradaxa can be used to prevent blood clots and stroke in patients with either recurrent episodes of atrial fibrillation that stop after seven days (called "paroxysmal) or ongoing ("permanent") atrial fibrillation, and with risk factors for blood clotting and stroke, provided that they don't have a prosthetic heart valve, significant heart valve disease, severe kidney failure or advanced liver disease.
The updated guidelines are published in the journals Circulation, HeartRhythym and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Last December, the groups released an updated guideline that said a combination of aspirin and the drug Plavix (clopidogrel) could be used to prevent blood clots and stroke in atrial fibrillation patients who are poor candidates for warfarin.
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