American journal of cardiovascular drugs : drugs, devices, and other interventions
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Dec 2015
ReviewRivaroxaban in the Prevention of Stroke and Systemic Embolism in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: Clinical Implications of the ROCKET AF Trial and Its Subanalyses.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an increasingly common cause of stroke and systemic embolism. While warfarin has been the mainstay of stroke prevention in patients with AF, newer novel oral anticoagulant medications are now available. Rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor with a rapid onset and offset after oral administration, offers potential advantages over warfarin, predominantly due to its predictable pharmacokinetics across wide patient populations. ⋯ Important contraindications to rivaroxaban include valvular AF, the presence of a prosthetic valve (mechanical or bioprosthetic) or valve repair, the need for concurrent dual antiplatelet therapy, and creatinine clearance <30 ml/min. Once-daily dosing and the lack of coagulation monitoring may increase utilization and adherence compared with warfarin, potentially decreasing the large burden of care associated with stroke secondary to AF. Overall, rivaroxaban offers a useful alternative to warfarin for stroke prevention in patients with AF.
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Am J Cardiovasc Drugs · Dec 2015
Comparative StudyComparative Effectiveness of Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers Versus Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Following Contemporary Treatments in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results from the Korean Working Group in Myocardial Infarction (KorMI) Registry.
There are few data on the comparative effectiveness of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) in a broad spectrum of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). ⋯ In a broad spectrum of AMI patients with interventional and pharmacologic treatments, the short-term risk of cardiac death or MI was similar between ARB and ACEI groups.