Ximelagatran, the oral anticoagulant of the future an evidence based review

ABSTRACT

This article presents the available data on Ximelagatran, a novel oral direct thrombin inhibitor and explores its therapeutic potential. Recent large clinical trials have evaluated the efficacy and safety of this anticoagulant compared to the standard anticoagulation therapy with warfarin and heparins in several thrombotic disorders. These trials provide strong evidence for the efficacy and safety of ximelagatran in the following clinical indications; the prevention of venous thromboembolism after knee or hip replacement, the treatment of deep venous thrombosis, and prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Further evaluation of this promising oral anticoagulant is warranted in other thrombotic cardiovascular disorders requiring chronic oral anticoagulation therapy such as in patients with prosthetic heart valves, intracardiac thrombi dilated cardiomyopathy, after myocardial infarction am post percutaneous coronary interventions: