The association of direct thrombin inhibitor anticoagulants with cardiac thromboses

Abstract

Direct thrombin inhibitor (anti-factor IIa) anticoagulants, now established for treatment and prevention of cardiac thromboembolism and VTE, have been repeatedly associated with a significantly increased frequency of thrombosis on abnormal cardiac endothelium when compared head-to-head with indirectly acting therapeutic anticoagulants in studies of sufficient patient number and duration. Although there is uncertainty as to the mechanism, the weight of evidence as a class effect warrants prescribing effective anticoagulants other than direct thrombin inhibitors.